How to Get Birds to Use a Bird feeder: Useful Tips

There's nothing more frustrating than putting up a bird feeder and not having many birds use it. Well, I guess there is one thing more frustrating, when you see one of your neighbors attract a multitude of birds to their bird feeders, but you can't get any to use yours.

I guess the easy thing to do would be to go by your neighbors house and ask them what they are doing different then you. If you feel like talking and getting to know your neighbor, then you may want to do this. But, if you don't feel like talking to your neighbor, or maybe don't like them, this article will help you attract more birds to your bird feeder.

What is a bird feeder and why do people use them

A bird feeder is a device to feed wild birds. People use bird feeders because they like seeing the beautiful different types of birds that come and eat from them.

People who want to attract a large number of different types of birds typically choose a hanging tube-style bird feeder over other styles because they can hold a greater volume of food.

The first step to getting birds to use a bird feeder is ensuring that there are some nearby trees or other structures where the birds can perch and eat without being disturbed. The next step involves choosing the right location for your bird feeder, which means placing it in an area with easy access from surrounding vegetation, avoiding areas of heavy traffic, and seeking out places that stay in the shade during certain parts of the day.

The last important step is choosing a bird feeder that can hold enough food for all types of birds to share while also being easy for them to access without problems. This means using an elevated feeder over one on the ground, ensuring there are no obstructions, and choosing one that has multiple feeding ports.

Bird feeders are a great way to attract beautiful wild birds like cardinals or blue jays into your backyard so you can observe them up close.

Why birds don't want to eat from the feeder

Birds may not want to eat from a feeder because of how it looks or because they think that there is a better option for them nearby. A feeder may look too different from the birds’ natural feeding spots, and therefore doesn't make an attractive place to eat.

Some colors, particularly white, can be a negative to birds. If this is true for your bird feeders, you can try changing the color of them so that they blend more with the natural environment. You can also try adding a perch to the feeder so that it seems more inviting.

Also, the placement of the feeder may not be ideal for birds to feed. You have to think like a bird when placing your feeder in your yard. Can birds keep an eye out for predators when they are feeding? Is the feeder close enough to places birds can fly to quickly? Can they nest nearby? Is there a water source like a bird bath for them to drink from?

How to get birds to come to your bird feeder

The first thing that you should do is fill the bird feeder with seed and put it in an area where there are trees or bushes. This will help conceal the feeder from predators like cats and squirrels which can make eating difficult for our feathered friends. Next, place the bird feeders near shrubs or trees so that they have some shelter from windy weather conditions. Finally, make sure that you clean out your feeder on a regular basis because if left uncleaned it may become contaminated with mold which could cause illness to the birds or you.

Mealworms and suet are among some of the best treats that will encourage more birds into your backyard. You can also add an assortment of seeds to the bird feeder, but this is less likely to attract species of birds that eat more insects.

Also, try changing up what type of food is on offer at different times of day. The time of day may also influence what types of birds come to the feeder. More birds will be present in your backyard during dawn and dusk hours than during midday hours, so it's important to change up when you put out the food.

The depth of the feeder's feeding tray can also impact how many birds come to the feeder. It's generally a good idea to keep the tray shallow so that birds can get at all of the food, but if you notice your feeder isn't attracting as many species of birds, try making it deeper.

Tips for success with feeding wild birds in your backyard

1) Place the feeder in an area near a tree or bush that will provide cover for the birds.

2) Build a raised platform or bird table to place the feeders and bird baths on.

3) Be sure to clean out your feeders and bird baths once a week.

4) Offer different seed varieties to attract as many species as possible.

The best types of seeds, nuts, and suet for attracting different types of birds

There are several different types of seeds, nuts, and suet that you can use to attract different types of birds. Below is a list of the best types of seeds, nuts, and suet for attracting bird.

If you don't want to buy individual seeds and nuts, I would recommend using mixed seed as it will most likely attract all types of birds.

Seeds

There are many types of seeds that will attract wild birds to your bird feeder. The most popular seeds are sunflower, millet, peanut hearts, and black oil sunflower seed. There are also some seeds that you can plant in pots around the yard for your winged friends to eat-- consider planting poppy, amaranth, corn, thistle flower heads, etc. These seeds are rich in protein and nutrients for the birds' long journeys. Some of these seeds will grow easily when planted.

Nuts

Nuts are a tasty, healthy snack for people and they make great bird food too. They’re high in protein, energy, B vitamins, and minerals. The best type of nut to feed your feathered friends is an unsalted peanut. Unsalted peanuts are free of sodium which is toxic to birds. Peanuts are the most popular nut for feeding birds because they’re affordable and easy to crush into bite-sized pieces.

You may also wish to try whole shelled almonds or whole cashews if you want something more substantial for your feathered friends. These nuts will take longer to chew so it’s important not to give them out too often or in large quantities. You can also crush them and put them in your bird feeder for birds to pick at.

Suet

Suet is a type of animal fat and bird feed that has been processed into a semi-solid form. It is usually found in blocks or logs and can be stored at room temperature. Suet blocks are most commonly made from beef, mutton, deer, chicken, turkey, or beef suet. People who put out these blocks as food for birds often assume that the birds will find the feeder so long as they have it located near bushes, shrubs or trees with many branches on them--or even just any part of a tree.

In reality, the more you do to attract birds to your feeder--such as putting out a variety of different types of seeds on it--the greater the odds will be that the birds will be able to find it. The first thing that you can do is place out a suet feeder by hanging it from a branch of one of those bushes, shrubs or trees mentioned above--or even just any part of a tree.

However, if this does not work and your goal still remains to attract more birds to your birdfeeder after trying this method for several weeks without success, then there are other things that you could try such as: putting up two smaller feeding stations within about five feet apart near where you placed down the suet log; adding food scraps like orange peels and banana peels to the suet log; and adding a second feeder of an entirely different type (like one for seeds, peanuts or dried fruit) near where you put down your suet.

Conclusion

You can get more birds to use your bird feeder. You just need to take a few extra steps. The best thing about feeding wild birds is that you don’t need a lot of space or money to do it. You can hang a simple seed tray from the nearest tree, add some peanuts and within minutes there will be fluttering wings around your feet.

If you feel like going all out then try hanging up different types of food including mealworms , seeds, fruit pieces and dried mealworms . Just remember not too much as this could make the ground beneath your feeder messy with bits falling out. The last thing you want is an infestation of ants.