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Q My friends and I noticed a paucity of birds at our feeders in late spring, and they're just now starting to return. Any explanation?

A The same thing is happening in my back yard, with greatly reduced bird traffic at feeders until about mid-June. The reason: This is the time of year when nearly all songbirds ignore seeds, switching instead to an insect diet.

They feed their offspring exclusively on insects, especially juicy caterpillars, for the big dose of protein they provide. On this diet, young birds mature quickly and leave the nest in just over two weeks after hatching. This is necessary, because predators are always watching for a tasty meal. Once the youngsters leave the nest, the whole family may show up at your feeders.

Q I recently purchased a bag of seed from a big-box store. The shells were covered with what looked like a white substance. Is it safe to feed to birds?

A This may be the sign of an insect infestation, and though the seed might be safe to feed to birds, it's best not to take a chance. Birdseed can become spoiled at the store or while stored at home, and with summer's heat coming on, now is the time to be extra vigilant. If you have any questions at all about your seed, toss it in the trash to keep it away from birds and other wildlife. Seeds are full of oils and can easily become rancid, thus unappetizing to birds. Mold, which is highly toxic to birds, grows easily in damp or wet seed in hot weather. I always recommend buying birdseed at a wild bird store, where great care is taken to ensure that seed is fresh.

Here are some tips for keeping birds safe and protecting your investment in birdseed:

Store seed in a metal container with a tight lid to foil raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks and other mammals. Rodents can gnaw easily through a plastic container, and seed left in paper bags in the garage is vulnerable to break-ins by mice, squirrels and chipmunks, even rats.

Sift through bagged seed from time to time to detect any insect infestations or mold, and toss any seed that is clumping or has larvae or webbing in it.

If you're using hulled seeds, such as hulled sunflower, buy in small quantities in the summer and store the seed in a cool, dry place to avoid rancidity.

Check seed in feeders regularly, and toss any that is clumped or stuck to the feeder's sides or floor. Check after each rain to make sure seed hasn't gotten damp.