Where should I put a bird feeder?

Feeders close to natural shelter such as trees or shrubs offer resting places for birds between feeding bouts and a quick refuge if a hawk flies through. Evergreens are ideal—their thick foliage buffers winter winds and offers year-round hiding places from predators.

Does it matter where you put a bird feeder?

Bird feeders are best hung in a place where your visiting birds feel safe from predators. Most important: Avoid open and noisy areas and hang your bird feeders at eye level or a little above. Do not hang feeders too close to any place where squirrels can jump on them, or too low they are within a cat's reach.

How far should a bird feeder be from the house?

How do I prevent window collisions? Place your feeder at least 30 feet away from windows or be sure they are within 3 feet (this is why window feeders are okay to use).

Should bird feeders be sun or shade?

A sheltered southeastern exposure is best for hanging a bird feeder since birds like to feed in the sun and out of the wind. Birds also prefer to have a clear view over their feeding area so they can see any predators.

Is it OK to put bird feeder near house?

Feeders should be placed either very close to the window (less than three feet), or much further away (greater than 10 feet). From close feeders, birds cannot hit the window hard enough for serious injury, and distant feeders provide enough room to safely maneuver.

Bird Feeding Tips: cleaning and locations of feeders

How far should a bird feeder be from a window?

To prevent window strikes, place bird feeders either within 3 feet of your windows or more than 10 feet away from them. You can even try a window bird feeder to see birds up close. If the birds hit your window from within 3 feet they will likely not be going fast enough to hurt themselves.

How do I attract birds to my new bird feeder?

Where should I hang my bird feeder without trees?

If you're tight on garden space, wall brackets offer a great solution for hanging bird feeders to a solid structural wall. These are ideal to position on a brick wall of a house, walled shed or outhouse. Simply place the wall bracket up high for the bird feeder, so it's still within easy reach to clean.

Should I put a bird feeder by my garden?

Make sure to place the bird feeder near the garden and in an area that has vegetation which can provide a natural habitat and protection for the birds while they feed.

How long does it take for birds to find feeder?

Birds take about 10 days to find a new feeder. Birds typically take 5 – 18 days to find feeders, depending on the feeder location, the local bird species, the safety of the environment, and the time of day. For example, birds in Utah take 18.8 days but birds in Arizona take 6.2 days to find new bird feeders.

Do birds come to feeders in the rain?

While birds often seek shelter when rain's falling, that doesn't mean they don't need a little help with the bird feeders. When it's raining or there's a lot of moisture in the area, the birdseed in your feeders becomes susceptible to bacteria and sprouting.

Why don't birds come to my feeders?

There are many possible reasons birds aren't coming to your feeder. Birds don't come to your bird feeder because there is something wrong with your bird food, the feeder, the placement of feeders, the landscaping and safety of your yard, or the time of year.

Do bird feeders attract mice?

"Mice, like all animals, are always looking for food sources. If you have a food source in or around your home, they are going to be attracted to it." According to Cavanaugh, bird feeders also are a high reward-low risk spot for mice to get food.

How far should a bird feeder be off the ground?

Pole-mounted feeders should be about five feet off the ground and protected by a cone-shaped baffle (at least 17 inches diameter) or similar obstacle below the feeder. Locate pole-mounted feeders at least 10 feet from the nearest shrub, tree, or other tall structure.

What do you put under bird feeders?

Add a 3-4-inch layer of mulch below the feeders, then turn the mulch to bury debris where it can decompose out of sight. Replace the mulch seasonally to dispose of remaining debris. Allow feeders to remain empty for a day or two to encourage ground-feeding birds to pick up spilled seed and be their own cleanup crew.

How do you keep squirrels away from bird feeders?

What time of day do birds feed?

Typically birds like to eat early in the morning so that is when they will be looking for food. Your bird feeder should be full at dawn so the birds will find it first thing when they are searching.

Do bird feeders make a mess?

They are messy

They flick seeds and shells all over the ground — “especially with sunflower seeds or peanuts that come in shells,” says Rutter. “Birds don't have teeth, so they're not chewing.

Do birds poop near bird feeders?

Keeping Feeding Stations Clean and Disease Free

Birds drop their feces whenever they take off or while feeding, so the ground under bird feeders and the feeders themselves, especially those with trays to catch the seed, can get very messy and become a breeding ground for bacteria and food poisoning.

How do you attract birds if you have no trees?

Can I hang bird feeder from tree?

Use a long rope, chain or bungee cord to secure a line to the tree. Make sure it has an S-hook or loop on the end for easy access. If you are attaching a squirrel guard to the feeder, hook it onto the cord before adding the bird feeder.

Do windchimes scare birds?

Wind chimes will deter birds. The loud noise will startle birds and keep them away. However, If a bird gets used to wind chimes' noise, it will get “habituated” to the sound, which means that the noise will no longer scare the bird and deter it.

How do birds recognize bird feeders?

Birds almost exclusively find food by sight.

With almost no sense of smell, birds rely on their keen senses of sight and sound to locate food sources. So, if a bird catches sight of a feeder containing a familiar food source, they will likely stop for a bite to eat.

How many bird feeders should I have?

You should aim to have about 7 bird feeders. However, having a range of 4 to 10 bird feeders of various types and bird feeds is still optimal. This will help to diversify feed sources and attract a variety of birds to the bird feeding station.

Why do birds throw seed out of feeder?

Birds throw seed hulls from the feeder

Birds eat the meat of the seed, the kernel. They discard the seed's fibrous outer covering, the hull. If you examine the seeds under the feeder you may see that it is mostly the two inedible halves of the hull that have been tossed on the ground.