How can I attract birds to a new bird feeder?
We just put up a new bird feeder. It’s been around for a week and no birds have found it. We have not had one in our yard before. Well, at least where we live now we haven’t. We live in a wooded area.
Any way to entice some feathered friends to come and have a snack?
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just have to be patient so the birds become familiar with place
Wait another week, but if the birds don’t come in another week then plant flowers around the bird feeder (sunflowers are the best for attracting birds). You can also add a bird bath or something that holds fresh water for them to bathe in. Also, make sure that you have the right bird food. Birds love sunflower seeds and other mixed seeds.
Try moving it further away from the house for awhile. Once they find it, you can move it closer. Some birds are ground feeders, so you can try throwing some seed on the ground where you see the birds. Once they find the seed they will go to a bird feeder if it is large enough for them to sit at. Make sure you have a mix of seed that the birds in your area eat. I buy wild bird seed, but I also mix in extra sunflower and cracked corn for the birds I have in my area. Birds are attracted to water, so place some terracotta saucers around the area. I have the usual birdbath, a saucer hanging on the deck and one on the ground. Terracotta is good because it is not slippery and helps keep the water cool. Being in a wooded area, you might think of using a suet feeder also for woodpeckers, oaktits or whatever you might have. Last but not least, you have to have patience. If you put it out, they will come.
I would start with using a generic wild bird food mix that will attract a wider variety of species. If you have seen birds in your neighborhood that are seed eaters, they will eventually find your feeder. Unless there are tons of other feeders in the area or there is a plentiful stock of natural seeds for the birds to eat, they will take advantage of your feeder.
We had a feeder hanging from a pole in the open and no birds would feed from it. Then we moved the same feeder with the same seed, black oil sunflower seed, to a tree in the middle of our yard and hung it from a branch about 6 feet off the ground. The same day, house finches, goldfinches and pine siskins were all feeding from it.
So you may want to experiment with placement. If after a few days there are no birds coming to the feeder, move it to another location. When you do start to get birds coming to your feeder, here is a bird seed chart that lists seed preference according to species:
http://www.birdwatching-bliss.com/wild-bird-food.html
Birds like water, so keeping water nearby is good - either a bird bath or makeshift bird bath.
Make sure the birds local to your area can access and eat the food provided. here are some tips on bird food: http://www.birdfeederusa.com/bird-facts/bird-food.aspx
And then have patience. People are always advised to start with small tubes because it takes a while for birds to find you. Once they do, you will go through food quickly!
water, safety, and desirable food are what attracts birds to the feeder. Some people think if you place something shiny under the bird feeder it might catch the attention of flying birds.