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Many people find enjoyment and relaxation in watching birds flock to their backyard feeders. However, nothing is more frustrating than watching birds pass by your feeding arrangement and end up at your neighbor’s. If you are having trouble attracting birds, you must investigate several aspects of your set-up to determine why the birds aren’t feeding in your yard.
A common problem in bird feeding is the placement of the feeders. First, the feeders must be within a very short distance of trees. This provides the birds a safe place to escape to if a predator or unexpected disturbance frightens them while feeding. If trees are not available, shrubs, fencing, or a deck can substitute quite well.
Feeders should be placed at various heights around your yard. This is especially important if there are cats or other predators in the area. Although many birds will feed off the ground, if all your feeders are placed too low you may have trouble convincing them to come. If birds suspect there are predators nearby, they will not put themselves in harm’s way. Offer feeders at varying heights to ensure birds can feed safely.
Next, take some time to look at the seed you are offering. Do not use commercially prepared birdseed. This seed is mostly filler with only a few choice seeds within a bag. Birds will search through this mixture, take what they want, and leave the rest. When the good seed is gone and only filler remains, you may find your feeders are visited far less frequently. Choose seeds such as black oil sunflower seeds, safflower, niger seed, and peanuts to attract birds to your feeders.
Another reason birds may not come to your feeders is because your seed is old. Seed not yet in a feeder should be stored in an airtight container to prevent it from going stale. Also make sure that your seed is not getting moldy as it sits in the feeder. After a rain, it may be necessary to clean out seed that still remains, as it will stay wet and start to mold. This not only makes the seed unappealing, it creates a possible health hazard for your birds.
Perhaps there is too much competition at your feeder. If you only have one feeder available, and happen to attract a blue jay or other aggressive bird, you may not see many other birds in your yard. Squirrels can also affect the numbers of birds at your feeders as they tend to be rather boisterous and wasteful of seed. You can keep squirrels from your feeders by placing baffles or other deterrents on your feeding stations. Offer several feeding stations for your birds, making use of as many as are appropriate for your available space.
It is important to remember that birds are cautious about exploring new feeding stations. It can take as long as a month for birds to visit a new feeder, so do not get discouraged if you add a feeder to your yard and it is not immediately visited. Keep it filled and change the seed as necessary to prevent mold or staleness. In time, the birds will trust it is a safe feeding station and will visit often.
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