Estabrook's Garden Newsletter

Getting the Most Out of Your New Bird Feeder

Attract the most beautiful birds to your yard with our bird feeder tips

Did you receive a new bird feeder over the holidays? Follow these helpful tips to keep your neighborhood birds interested and healthy.

To attract the right birds for your area, it's important to understand the type of feeder you have. Make a note of your feeder type and use only seed specifically designed for your feeder.

Feeder placement is also a critical aspect of successful bird stewardship. When placing a new feeder it's not unusual for birds to take up to two weeks to locate it.

If you are having problems getting birds to your existing feeder and keeping them coming, consider the following common issues:

• If you're using a freestanding or hanging feeder away from the house, most birds will like a sense of enclosure that can often be provided by a planting of shrubs or backing by a wooded area.
• The habitat should not provide cover for or be easily accessible to bird predators such as household cats or close to nesting or roosting areas for birds of prey.
• Be sure to use fresh seed. Since bird seed is a natural product high in oils it can often spoil if not kept in an air tight container or kept at an improper temperature. Ideally keep seed in a cool dry place, and remember that seed can spoil at different rates depending on the season.
• As mentioned above, be sure you are using the right feeder and feed to attract the birds you want. For instance, some birds like cardinals don't like to use a "tube-type" feeder. Estabrook's can help you select that perfect feeder for specific birds, or direct you to a feeder that pleases a wide variety of species.