There are lots of bird feeders of different styles, designs and sizes on the market, so you may think to yourself which is the best one for my garden and what attracts birds to feeders?
The answer is, of course, a regular supply of high-quality food. But selecting the best bird feeder for the job is also important.
It's clear that more species are learning to take advantage of the bird feeders and food we hang up for them so all the more reason to try to create a garden which takes into account the requirements of wildlife as well as your own.
Whether you are choosing a small feeder or a large feeder, or just adding more feeders to a growing congregation of offerings, it is important to choose one that's safe, practical and hygienic; its cosmetic appeal should be secondary.
The feeders that will help to attract birds to feeders should have a generous capacity for fewer refills, seed ventilation to keep food fresher for longer and easy disassemble parts for cleaning.
Visibility is important so that the birds will notice the new feeder - therefore, position the feeder in a safe but noticeable location in the garden, ideally not too far from trees or bushes (so birds can make a short flight to safety if needed), but not too close either – predators like cats can use low shrubbery as cover before attacking. Here's an important but easily overlooked consideration: ensure you can see it as watching and feeding wildlife is enjoyable.
Now sit back and relax as it may take birds only a few minutes to begin using a new bird feeder, while others may take days or even weeks before they are comfortable with the new design. Some birds can be picky eaters, while others are much less choosy and less cautious about new bird feeders. Be patient, but by taking proper steps to make the feeder appealing to the birds you will soon be refilling it regularly.
To attract birds to feeders you will need to fill the feeder with high-quality, super-clean bird food - Sunflower hearts, Goldfinch and Siskin Mix, Niger seed and Huskfree Advance to name but a few.
If you have noticed that the birds have not used the new feeder after several days, then simply remove your other feeders for a few days - once they start to feed on the new feeders you can then place your other feeders back in place, but do keep your eye on the seed in the new feeders as if it has not been visited regularly it may become mouldy or stale and the birds will less likely to be attracted to it.
You can also accessorize the new feeder to make it more attractive with a feeding station to attract more birds to feeders.
A well-planned bird garden offers a variety of species a place to eat, drink and even call home so please make space for nature in your garden.
Written by Chris Smith
