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Feeder Placement

Landscaping for Birds

Feeder Placement

Place your feeder in a quiet area where it is easy to see and convenient to refill. To attract a variety of birds, the feeder should be close to natural cover (shelter) such as trees or shrubs, which offer refuge to birds as they wait their turn to feed. Evergreens are ideal, as they provide thick foliage that hides birds from predators and buffers winter winds. If the seed in the feeder is blowing out or getting wet, your birds are probably getting the same treatment. Try moving the feeder to a calmer, more sheltered spot.

Be careful not to place feeders too close to cover, however, as nearby branches can provide good jump-off points for squirrels that may be eyeing the seeds and for cats that may be eyeing the birds. A distance of about 10 feet seems to be a good compromise, but try experimenting. You can provide resting and escape cover for ground-dwelling birds, such as Song Sparrows, by placing loosely stacked brush piles near your feeders.

If no birds visit your feeder within a few days of setting it up, try sprinkling seeds on the ground nearby to make the feeder more obvious.

Landscaping for birds

Nothing provides an easier or more dependable food supply than “birdscaping” your yard with native vegetation. Because habitat loss is the leading cause of population declines in many bird species, planting native vegetation in your community is one of the best ways you can help improve the environment. For more information, see books on backyard bird feeding.

If you decide to landscape your yard for birds, start by choosing what birds you would like to attract, then learn what plants they prefer. Remember that a variety of plants attracts the greatest diversity of bird species. Grow plants that bloom and provide fruit at different times, providing food throughout the year. Some plants to consider include black-eyed susan and sunflowers for their flowers and seeds; tubular-shaped, nectar-producing flowers to attract hummingbirds; plants such as cinnamon fern and thistle to provide soft nesting material; small trees and fruiting plants such as crabapples, dogwood, serviceberries, sumacs, and viburnum; conifers such as pine and spruce to provide cover, sap, seeds, and nesting sites; and deciduous trees such as oaks, chestnuts, and hickories to provide nuts and good nesting locations.