If your bird feeder isn’t a bird magnet, these snafus could be why.
If you’d like to attract wild birds to your yard, putting out a bird feeder is a great start. But to successfully draw in a variety of birds, you’ll need to do more than throw out some bird seed in a feeder. Here, wild bird experts weigh in with common mistakes people make with bird feeders and ways to remedy them. From putting out more seed variety to positioning your feeder well, try these strategies to host a beautiful array of feathered friends in your backyard.
Meet Our Expert
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Brian Cunningham, chief naturalist at Wild Birds Unlimited, Inc., in Carmel, Indiana
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Maren Gimpel, associate director of Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory at Washington College
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John Griffin, senior director of Urban Wildlife Programs at the Humane World for Animals
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Kathleen Rogers, president of Earthday.org
Related: How to Stop Birds From Nesting in Unwanted Places, According to an Ornithologist
You Put Out Too Much Feed
People often get excited when putting out a new feeder and throw in too much bird feed. Put out a moderate amount of seed and replenish it every few days, as needed.
“If you don’t have many birds around, don’t put out too much seed when you start,” says Maren Gimpel, associate director of Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory at Washington College. “It may take birds a while to find your feeders and seed doesn’t last forever, so start small, especially if you have purchased expensive seed like nyjer or hulled sunflowers.”
You Put Out One Type of Feeder
Another common mistake is to only put out one type of bird feeder. If you want to attract a variety of birds, use different feeders. And if you want to entice birds that don’t eat seeds, like hummingbirds or woodpeckers, add a hummingbird nectar feeder and a suet feeder for woodpeckers to your buffet, Gimpel advises.
“Different bird species eat different things in different ways, so having a variety of feeders can increase your bird diversity,” Gimpel explains. “Smaller birds can sit on feeders with perches while they eat (think of finches and chickadees and sparrows).”…