The way you place bird feeding stations in your backyard can affect how many birds visit your backyard. A logical placement of bird feeders can also attract a variety of birds. Here are a few suggestions for proper placement of bird feeders:
• You should have multiple “stations” placed around your yard. Each station should consist of 3 or 4 bird feeders grouped closely together. Choose a variety of bird feeders, to attend to a variety of birds. The stations should be spread apart by about 50 feet. The key to attracting a variety of birds is to put different types of bird seed in each feeder. Also, be sure to include a few suet feeders (at least one) for the birds who eat insects. The suet I have in my backyard is the Large Ranch Suet Cedar Bird Feeder, shown to the right, which holds two suet cakes on each side. The cages are made of anodized aluminum for durability.
• Make sure feeding stations are close to shelter. Many birds will not stay long at a feeder; they will visit the feeder and then quickly fly to the safety of a nearby tree or bush. This is because birds are vulnerable to predators when they are visiting feeding stations.
• Especially during the winter, be sure your bird feeders are not susceptible to high winds. Not only do winds scatter seeds, but they also cause the feeder to sway so erractically that birds will not be able to visit them! Large trees and shrubs usually provide shelter from the wind, so these are good areas to put feeders in the winter.
• Some birds are ground feeding birds (like sparrows and doves), so be sure to spread some cracked corn or millet around your yard. Birds love the Songblend Cracked Corn Bird Seed 4 lb bag. Spread the food around in spots that are not right in the open. The middle of your lawn is not a good idea. Good areas would be under a picnic table, where there is moderate shelter. Do NOT leave food under shrubs, because cats can hide there!
Birds like predictability in their food sources. Once you find areas that seem to attract a large variety of birds, keep your feeders in these spots! Also, be sure they are always filled with food.