How To Attract Birds To Feeders

If you've set up a bird feeder to no avail, there are several things you can do that will help attract birds to your feeders. Birds are continually looking for safe places to establish a home that is convenient to water and nourishment.

Adding elements in and around your property, in addition to bird feeders, that provide a safe, stress-free habitat, will help attract birds to feeders and keep them coming back. Follow these seven steps and you will be attracting birds to feeders and your garden in no time.

Step 1

Purchase small pieces of shiny yard art to stick in the ground near the feeders. We have all heard of magpies being attracted to shiny objects but other birds like them too.

The Yard Envy website suggests placing any type of shiny object under feeders to help attract birds. Consider small globes used for decoration, shiny garden figures or mosaic art made from pieces of mirror and tile.

Step 2

Provide a water source for birds to drink and bathe in. While a simple birdbath will do, birds love running water such as a small garden pond, stream or waterfall.

Allow your creativity to work within your budget to create something special for your feathered tenants.

Step 3

Make several different types of feeders and bird feeder stands available and consider placing them at varying heights. Some birds prefer to eat while perching, and other, less choosy birds eat heartily from platform feeders.

Perching feeders may be more attracted to hanging feeders with posts for the birds to stand on. Platform feeders simply allow birds to stand and eat from a tray, and suet feeders work for all types of birds. To attract hummingbirds, hang a hummingbird feeder nearby. The more varieties of feeders you have, the greater varieties of birds you will attract.

Step 4

Hang feeders so that birds can eat safely. Choose areas that receive little traffic and are out of direct view of pets.

Birds that can eat in peace will most likely return on a regular basis.

Step 5

Select a variety of bird feeder food such as black-oiled sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, nyjer (thistle seeds), cracked corn and other specialty seeds.

Suet cakes will be necessary if you've purchased a suet feeder, as well as hummingbird nectar for hummingbird feeders.

Step 6

Remove any caked food from feeders before it becomes moldy. Birds will eventually turn their beaks up to feeders that are not maintained.

Keeping feeders and areas of water supply clean is essential for healthy birds.

Step 7

Provide birdhouses and nesting boxes to allow birds an opportunity to build nests and stay where food and water are plentiful. Different birds exhibit different nesting behaviors. Some may prefer a box attached to the house while others prefer trees.

The size of the access holes will also determine the type of birds you attract. Select birdhouses suitable for the birds in your area that you want to attract.