Feeders are a brilliant way of attracting a range of eye-catching birds into your garden. But, before you can rejoice in their appearance, you have to make sure that birds will be happy perching around your feeder. After all, if you invest in quality bird feeders, you want to ensure that you get some quality bird sightings too! Choosing the right location for your bird feeder is essential to bringing birds back to your garden time and again.
So, here are our tips on finding the best place for a bird feeder, no matter the garden you are hanging it in.
These Are the Best Places for a Bird Feeder
Naturally, the best place for a bird feeder will depend on your garden. However, there are certain things that the placement of your bird feeder will need to give birds the best access. Here are the ideal elements of a suitable place to hang a bird feeder:
A Quiet Place
Ideally, you’ll want to place your feeder somewhere that will remain undisturbed by your family, visitors and pets. But you may still want to see the birds as they feed, so don’t be afraid to position your feeder close to the house; just make sure it’s in a quiet spot.
Close to Cover
Placing feeders close to trees, bushes, and other forms of cover is ideal. This allows them to feed in safety and quickly fly for cover from predators when needed.
Somewhere Sheltered
Extreme weather can affect your feeders and the birds that come to them. So, you’ll want to place your bird feeder in a sheltered position where it won’t get too much sun, rain or wind.
Somewhere With a Good Vantage Point
Birds will need a safe lookout while assessing the feeding point and waiting for other birds to finish. Also, they’ll need somewhere to hide away if any predators come chasing them easily. So set up your feeder near a small bush or tall tree that birds can hide in but cats can’t climb up[i].
Where To Hang Bird Feeders
If you’d like to attract various bird species to your garden, you may want to consider leaving out multiple feeders. Different birds have different feeding preferences. For example, blackbirds and chaffinches prefer to feed on the ground[ii]. So, think about bringing different types of feeders into your garden, including ground feeders, feeding tables, window feeders and feeding tables, to encourage a variety of bird species into your garden.
- Branches – Branch feeders are a popular way of feeding birds, but they need to be hung at the proper height and often need some extra security to help them withstand the harsher weather. Ideally, you should hang a branch feeder with a curved S-shape hook, as this will add stability and help your feeder withstand perching birds and blustery days.
- Windows – A window feeder is an incredible way to view birds, particularly if you have little or no garden space available. You can get a close-up view of some of the most beautiful birds with so little work! Surprisingly, the closer a feeder is to the window, the safer it will be for birds since it prevents them from speeding to the feeder, avoiding potential collisions. So, hand a window feeder that will either attach to the glass or hang closer than 3 feet to the window for a safe feeding space for birds.
- Deck – Having a feeder on your deck gives you the perfect location to watch any visiting birds without the worry of disturbing them. To safely place a hanging feeder on your deck or patio in a way that you can observe them, try a freestanding bird feeding station and an accompanying patio stand. Alternatively, if your deck has railings, you could add some bird feeder hooks to hold your bird feeders.
- Feeder Poles – Feeder poles are ideal for hanging or mounting bird feeders with no natural hanging options. If there are no trees or structures nearby to hang a bird feeder from, you can invest in a feeder pole or make your own with a copper pole.
How To Hang A Bird Feeder
Once you’ve chosen where to hang bird feeders, putting them up safely is the next priority – for both the birds and you. A badly hung feeder can easily fall, deterring birds and attracting predators. Usually, bird feeders come with a loop or hook with which to hang the feeder. However, depending on the type you have, there are several ways for you to hang a bird feeder safely.
Now You Know the Best Place For A Bird Feeder!
Finding the best place for a bird feeder will guarantee that your garden is alive with colour and sound on a regular basis. And, with our advice, you should have no problem finding the safest spot for your feeder!
However, if you’ve followed all our tips and hung your bird feeder in the best spot you can find and still not seeing any birds at your feeders, there may be a particular problem. Find out why birds aren’t coming to your feeders.
Sources
[i] https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/feeding-birds/all-about-bird-tables/where-to-put-a-bird-table/
[ii] https://homeandroost.co.uk/blog/feed-blackbirds-but-not-pigeons
Gemma Sharp is the resident writer for Love Garden Birds, a supplier of premium bird food and accessories. She has had a genuine love for our feathered friends from a young age, and has dedicated a lot of her time to learning all there is to know about them. If you’re struggling to pick the right bird feed for your garden, need help identifying a type of wild bird, or can’t decide where to put a nesting box, Gemma is the person to go to! She is passionate about sharing her years of learnt knowledge with the public. In her free time, she can be found feeding birds at home with her three young boys.