If you’ve been asking yourself, ‘why aren’t birds coming to my feeder,’ this article can help you with proper feeder setup.
If you’ve clicked on this article, we’ll take a wager that you are a bird-lover or at least considerably enjoy birdwatching. Seeing your yard swarming with birds of all kinds and sizes is a special delight to many bird enthusiasts. For this reason, many people set up bird feeders to attract birds to their yard and be a helping hand in the cold seasons when the natural food supply is low.
Bird feeders are a fantastic way for animal lovers who cannot afford to keep pets to enjoy them without a domesticated animal’s responsibility. But installing a feeder isn’t a hobby without a method to it. It would be a real bummer if you excitedly await the arrival of winged critters to your full feeder and notice that it stays empty and abandoned for days.
You wonder at the lack of success and can’t put your finger on what could have gone wrong. Well, that’s what this piece is all about! Whether you are planning to install a bird feeder or already have one gathering dust, let us help you figure out the best way to bring all the feathery chaps to your yard!
Table of Contents
What To Consider When Setting Up A New Bird Feeder
Your bird table may have the choicest variety in the world and still not attract guests if they feel insecure in the vicinity. The placement of the feeder is crucial if you don’t want a spanking new feeder with no birds. Position the feeder in an area that is not low enough for a predator like a cat to climb or close enough to trees and shrubs that rats and squirrels may use to reach it.
Another thing you can do to lead birds to your new feeder is to sprinkle some seeds in the general area – they may simply not have discovered your table yet, and you can guide them to your yard by throwing seed where they are sure to find it.
Why Aren’t Birds Coming To My Feeder?
There may be several reasons why your feeder hasn’t been able to pull in a great audience. Some of them, like the season, are beyond your control, but there are other factors that you may tweak to ensure a spike in your patronage!
1. Feeder Maintenance
Even if your yard hasn’t been visited in a while, you might still need to keep an eye on the feeder. Birds may not be coming to eat if the seed has grown moldy or rotten. You must also regularly take out the tray to clean and disinfect it with vinegar or other appropriate cleaning solution.
How often you need to clean the feeder depends on its type and the weather; suet feeders must be washed every day in hot weather but less when the temperature is cooler. After rinsing carefully, dry it before refilling to prevent mold from developing on the fresh seed. It’s also a smart move to buy a feeder with proper drainage, so rainwater doesn’t collect and ruin the store of grains inside.
2. Fear of Predators
As mentioned earlier, the feeder must be beyond the reach of natural predators or competitors for the birdseed. It is also best to choose a color that would camouflage it from them. Resist the temptation to unleash your inner artist and paint your birdhouse with neon colors. Instead, use nude or natural colors to blend with the surroundings, so your bird feeder does not stick out like a traffic light!
3. Weather
You may notice an increase in the frequenters in your garden in the winter and a startling drop in the warmer season. There’s no need to worry as food sources are harder to find in the cold. That means your bird table is a welcome dinner invite to too many hungry little beaks.
On the other hand, seeds, worms, and fruits are plentiful during the summer. This is why birds feel little need to feed on a tray. Rainy weather may also prevent them from coming, but all you must do is wait out this time and your friends are sure to return.
Something to remember for rainy days is that your feeder should not be exposed to the elements. It would be best to take it down or move it under shelter to salvage the seed. This will keep your feeder from suffering damage due to the elements.
Another alternative is to invest in a rainproof feeder or rain guard. These work as an umbrella above the feeder that protects the birds and their meal underneath it. It’s a great idea to have the little fellows enjoy your hospitality in unfriendly conditions.
4. Feeder Type
You may not see too many kinds of birds if your feeder or feed caters to exclusive sorts. To add life to the party, introduce various grains and seeds with multiple types of feeders. This will help you attract a host of species partaking in your feast. Seed feeders are great for experimenting with different sorts of feed to assess which ones are most alluring to the local birds. A tube feeder, for instance, is designed to accommodate smaller species. That’s because the tiny perches prevent bigger ones from roosting on them. This is especially useful in attracting birds to a new feeder. It would help if you also kept a water container to help quench their thirst on hot days.
Conclusion
There are few delights for an avid birder compared to watching avifauna teeming around in the backyard. That’s why ‘why aren’t birds coming to my feeder’ is such a popular query on the internet.
To encourage birdies to become regulars at your banquet, you need to create a safe haven for them. Try to abstain from using harsh chemical pesticides or leave the birds vulnerable to predators while they eat. By following these tips, you shouldn’t have to complain about birds not coming to your feeder.
Consider the kind of birdlife you wish to welcome into your home. Doing so will help you choose the bird feeder that is the best fit for your garden.
Read more about Birds Native To Utah – Avifauna Watch Out For In Your State.
