Backyard bird feeding is a widely popular activity, offering a direct connection to local wildlife right outside your window. Establishing a successful feeding station involves more than just hanging a container of seed and waiting for visitors to arrive. Maximizing the number and variety of birds requires a deliberate strategy considering their feeding habits, safety concerns, and dietary needs. The most effective approach involves coordinating the equipment, food, location, and maintenance of your setup to create a welcoming and healthy environment for feathered guests.
Matching Feeder Design to Bird Species
The structure of the feeder itself plays a significant role in determining which birds will visit, as different species have distinct preferences for how they access food. Platform feeders, which are essentially open trays, cater to larger birds and those that prefer to feed while standing, such as mourning doves, cardinals, and blue jays. These open designs easily accommodate species that are not adapted to clinging.
In contrast, tube feeders are favored by smaller, more agile birds like chickadees, titmice, and finches, which are comfortable clinging to small perches or the wire mesh itself. The small ports on a tube feeder limit access for larger, dominant species, allowing smaller birds to feed peacefully. Offering high-fat suet in a wire cage feeder is the best method for attracting insectivorous birds like woodpeckers and nuthatches. These birds appreciate the opportunity to brace their tail feathers against a surface while feeding vertically.
For those aiming to attract specialized visitors, nectar feeders are designed specifically for hummingbirds and orioles, providing a liquid sugar solution that mimics floral nectar. Hummingbird feeders often feature bright colors and small feeding ports suitable only for their long, slender bills. By diversifying your selection of feeder designs, you can cater to the distinct foraging behaviors of a wider array of local birdlife.
Choosing the Best Seed and Food
The contents of your feeders are the primary attractant, and selecting the right food is paramount to a successful feeding station. Black Oil Sunflower Seed (BOSS) is widely considered the universal favorite among seed-eating birds because its thin shell is easy for nearly all species to crack, and its high oil content provides excellent caloric energy. Offering BOSS attracts everything from finches and chickadees to cardinals and grosbeaks, making it the foundation of any feeding program.
To attract specific species, Nyjer seed—often mistakenly called thistle—is a tiny seed that is a particular favorite of American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins. This specialized seed is best offered in a dedicated tube feeder with very small ports to prevent waste. Suet, which is rendered animal fat often mixed with seeds or dried fruit, is especially attractive during colder months or to insect-eating birds like wrens and warblers.
For ground-feeding birds, distributing cracked corn on a platform feeder or directly on the ground appeals to doves, jays, and towhees. Avoid inexpensive seed mixes containing filler ingredients like milo, red millet, or oats. Desirable birds discard these, leading to spoiled food beneath the feeder and attracting unwanted pests.
Optimal Feeder Placement and Safety
The physical location of your feeders dictates both the comfort of the birds and their safety from predators and hazards. Feeders should be mounted on a pole or hung from a branch at a height of five to seven feet above the ground to deter ground-based predators such as cats. Placing the feeder near natural cover, like a dense shrub or tree, gives birds a quick escape route when they sense danger.
However, the feeder must be positioned far enough away from any potential jumping-off point to discourage squirrels and other climbing pests. A distance of at least ten feet from tree trunks, fences, or porch railings is recommended. Preventing window strikes is a crucial safety consideration, as they are often fatal to birds.
To mitigate this risk, adhere to one of two distance guidelines: either placing the feeder very close to the window (within three feet) or locating it far away (thirty feet or more). Placing the feeder within three feet prevents birds from gaining enough momentum to sustain a lethal injury if they panic and fly into the glass. The farther distance allows them enough space to recognize and avoid the reflective surface entirely. Providing a clean, fresh water source, such as a bird bath, placed a few feet away from the food source, also improves attraction.
Keeping Feeders Clean and Pest-Free
Maintaining a clean feeding station is a fundamental responsibility for bird health, preventing the spread of diseases like Salmonella and avian pox. Feeders should be thoroughly cleaned every two weeks, or more frequently during periods of heavy use or wet weather. The recommended cleaning method is to scrub the feeder to remove debris, then soak it for ten minutes in a solution of one part liquid bleach to nine parts water.
Rinsing the feeder completely and allowing it to air-dry before refilling ensures no chemical residue remains. Regularly rake and remove accumulated seed hulls and droppings from the ground underneath the feeder, as this waste can harbor mold and attract rodents. Neglecting to clear the ground creates an unsanitary area where birds can easily pick up pathogens.
To deter squirrels, which consume large amounts of seed and damage feeders, use a wide, smooth baffle installed beneath pole-mounted feeders. Baffles should be positioned at least four feet off the ground to prevent squirrels from jumping over them. A non-toxic alternative is seed coated with capsaicin, the compound found in chili peppers, which birds cannot taste but mammals find highly unpleasant. This measure trains squirrels to avoid the feeder without causing them harm.