Installing a bird feeder is a great way to greet guests from the sky in your yard. Birds may be drawn to your feeder by a number of things. For instance, the kind of feeder you use, its placement, the food you put inside, and the surrounding environment may all influence which kinds of birds visit your feeder. Expert advice on how to encourage birds to frequent your feeder may be found here.
Bringing in Various Bird Species
The kind of bird you wish to attract to your garden will determine what kind of bird feeder you should put there. Author of Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife and National Wildlife Federation biologist David Mizejewski advises, “Consider the types of birds you want to attract; different birds are attracted to different types of feeders and food.”
Your choice will also be influenced by the local climate. According to Mizejewski, “to keep seeds fresh in hot climates, look for feeders with ventilation and weatherized features.” “To reduce the frequency of refilling, select feeders with larger seed capacities in colder climates.”
Selecting the Appropriate Feeder
Understanding the local bird population is the best approach to choose the appropriate kind of feeder to use. Mizejewski advises “learning about the feeding habits of common birds in your area so you can select feeders and seeds that suit their tastes.” Installing many kinds of bird feeders could be a good idea, depending on the local species. Among them are:
Feeder Hopper
According to Gail Karr, director of special animal exhibits at the Memphis Zoo, “a hopper feeder is generally very attractive to most feeder birds.” Finches, jays, cardinals, buntings, grosbeaks, sparrows, chickadees, and titmice are among the birds included in this. She points out that squirrels are partial to these feeders and are free to eat the food. According to her, others are spring-loaded, “so the squirrel’s weight shuts these feeders.”
Hummingbird Suction Cup
Do you want to be in the front row to see the hummingbirds in your area? According to Mizejewski, “hummingbird feeders have specialized flower-like ports suitable for their long beaks.”
Feeder Platform
Mizejewski says, “Platform feeders with wider perches work well for larger birds like cardinals and blue jays.”
Peanut Dish
According to Karr, “this attracts squirrels, jays, and cardinals.” “It offers enrichment as they work the peanuts through the wire wreath and is typically shaped like a wreath.”
Suet Bowl
Birds get fat and energy from suet. According to Karr, “birds find great energy from suet feeders during cold weather.” Timber-peckers adore this. You’ll be shocked to learn how many other animals also benefit from it,” she continues.
Feeder Tube
Usually loaded with tiny seeds, this long, thin tube serves as a bird feeder. According to Mizejewski, “smaller birds like chickadees and finches are ideal for tube feeders with small perches.”
Choosing Appropriate Bird Food
After selecting a bird feeder, you must decide the kind of bird food to use. Selecting high-quality bird seed is crucial. To be robust and healthy, birds need a balanced diet. According to Mizejewski, “high-quality seed mixes are formulated to provide essential nutrients.”
Birds choose their food carefully. Cheap seed mixes sometimes include fillers with little nutritional benefit, according to Mizejewski.
Use premium feeds only! According to Karr, you get what you pay for. In addition to giving birds palatable, vitamin-rich food, going with quality over quantity can ultimately save you money, time, and cleaning effort. “The inexpensive food will be thrown on the ground by the birds, resulting in a complete mess with grass and weeds growing under your feeders,” the speaker claims. Rodents may also be drawn to the thrown-away seed.
Setting Up and Aligning the Feeder
When deciding where to hang a feeder, try to choose places that are out of reach for owls and other predators. To learn about the predators that frequent your area and how to keep the feeder out of reach for them, observe the fauna that spends time there. According to Mizejewski, “hawks, owls, and falcons might view your feeder as a dependable source of prey.”
Because squirrels like helping themselves, put the feeder somewhere that is out of their reach. Remember that squirrels are quick learners and difficult to outwit, advises Karr. “I placed feeders in troublesome areas, and the squirrels stole the feeder.”
Where is the best location for a bird feeder? According to Mizejewski, “Hang feeders near trees and shrubs away from open areas where hawks can quickly swoop down.” Selecting trees and branches that are difficult for squirrels and predators to reach is a good general rule of thumb. According to Karr, “I use tree lightweight branches that are isolated so that the feeders are difficult to get to.”
It is possible to put a feeder next to a window, but you must make sure birds won’t fly into it by mistake. “Put the feeder right next to the window so that if the birds fly toward the window, they won’t have enough time to gain enough speed to hurt themselves,” advises Mizejewski. One advantage of putting feeders near windows, according to Karr, is that squirrels often can’t reach them.
Establishing a Bird-Friendly Ambience
A bird feeder by itself does not invite birds to visit and eat. You may attract birds to your yard by creating a habitat that is suitable for them, complete with water, native plants, and supplies for nesting. The greatest method to feed birds is to establish native plants that give berries, seeds, nuts, nectar, and insects, as stated by Mizejewski. “I always use the phrase ‘birds need habitat before handouts’ to emphasize this point.”
Native Plants
Pollinators and other species, such as birds, benefit from the growth of a variety of native plants, such as grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees. Because they coevolved with a variety of insects and animals, native plants rely on one another for food, shelter, and pollination. According to Karr, “They’ll eat the seeds, make their nest in your yard, and it will provide cover from harsh weather and predators.” “In your yard, you’ll establish a whole ecosystem.”
Since birds consume caterpillars and insects, cultivating plants that appeal to them will attract more birds to your yard. According to Mizejewski, “the majority of bird species depend on insects for their diet; eliminate the use of pesticides and plant native plants to attract them.”
Shelter: To provide birds a somewhere to live, try planting a variety of plant sizes. Mizejewski says, “Shelter offers protection from predators and extreme weather conditions.” Additionally, you might provide birdhouses. By not having to fly about in search of a safe area, birds are able to preserve energy.
Water Resources
It is essential to establish a water source—a dish, container, bucket, or fountain—so that birds have somewhere to drink and can maintain clean feathers. Every kind of bird has distinct tastes when it comes to access to water. According to Mizejewski, “birdbaths provide a shallow dish—no deeper than 3 inches—for birds to drink and bathe in.”
Water sources don’t always need to be below the surface. He suggests hanging them from a tree limb, setting them on a pedestal, or mounting them to the deck railing. Remember that birds will share water sources with other creatures while they are below ground. According to Mizejewski, “animals that can’t fly or climb will be able to get a drink too, such as rabbits and turtles, if you place it on the ground.”
To help you choose the ideal container for putting out water, consider the species you want to attract to your garden. He continues, “Some species are drawn to moving water, like drippers or tiny fountains that imitate natural water sources.”
Offer Nesting Supplies
Make an area where birds may construct nests and locate the supplies to do so in your backyard, side yard, or front yard. Birds choose organic nesting materials such as dried grasses, moss, twigs, and leaves, according to Mizejewski. Birds may spend more time with their young when they have an area where they can gather and locate natural materials to construct a nest. “Offering nesting materials can help conserve time and energy that can be used for other important activities, such as raising young,” he continues.
Avoid Using Pesticides
It is best to avoid using chemical sprays for garden and landscape maintenance, such as herbicides or insecticides. The birds you want to attract may be harmed by the chemicals. Pesticides may kill birds directly, but what’s even more dangerous is that they deprive them of the food they need to raise their young in the spring. For this reason, Mizejewski advises against spraying them.
Keep Cats Apart
Even though cats are adorable, birds may be in danger from your beloved pet. When installing a bird feeder, consider the spaces that your cat cannot access. Bird feeders near cats put birds at danger, according to Mizejewski, who notes that “free-roaming cats are a significant threat to birds.”
How can you reduce the amount of time your cat spends chasing the same birds you want to attract to your backyard? “Keep cats indoors, particularly when the birds are more active, at dawn and dusk,” advises Mizejewski.
Regularly clean bird feeders
The birds have flocked to your well-arranged bird feeder, and you are delighted by their regular visits. You still need to maintain the bird feeder sanitary, so cleaning is necessary once the task is done. When seeds remain in a feeder too long, particularly in humid conditions, they might start to grow mildew.
How often should a bird feeder be cleaned? “During cooler weather, try to clean your feeder at least once every two weeks; during hot, humid weather or periods of high bird activity, clean your feeder once a week,” advises Mizejewski.
A thorough cleaning is required to stop the growth of mold, mildew, or illness. Clean bird feeders with soap and hot water. Do you want to sanitize them? “Disinfect in the dishwasher or soak feeders in a 20% solution of white vinegar and hot water,” advises Mizejewski. Use your creativity to guarantee that any dirt, mildew, or mold is removed from hard-to-clean spots. “To get in the cracks of feeders, use brushes or pipe cleaners,” advises Karr. “Allow feeders to air dry completely before restocking them.”
