9 Tips for Hanging a Bird Feeder to Attract Birds Effectively

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Written by

Clinton Atkins

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George Dukes

tips for hanging a bird feeder

Are you an enthusiastic birdwatcher? Or perhaps you like listening to the melodious tweets of these flying creatures? What you need is a bird feeder near your house.

You may think that you only need to buy a bird feeder, fill it with seeds, and hang it. However, if you want birds visiting your feeder, you need to be mindful of its location.

To help you out, here are our 9 important tips for hanging a bird feeder.

Tips & Tricks to Hang a Bird Feeder

Tip #1 – Hang it somewhere high

bird-feeder-hanging-ideas

Trees are common areas to hang a bird feeder. Most people will hang it between two trees.

You can place bird feeders on the balcony or patio as long as there is no activity nearby. Keep them away from the grills and lounging areas so birds won’t be afraid to approach the feeder.

The main reason why the best way is to hang the bird feeder up high is that it provides protection. High places keep the feeder from pesticides and unwanted animals.

So, how high should it be?

The ideal height depends on certain factors, such as the type of birds you want to attract.

  • For example, if you intend to feed Woodpeckers and Orioles, you need to hang the feeder at least six feet above the ground.
  • If you plan to attract Hummingbirds and Sparrows, the appropriate height is three feet from the ground.
  • There are also ground-feeding birds like towhees where you can have the feeder a foot high up the ground.

Tip #2 – Be sure you can reach it

You will need to maintain the feeder by cleaning, refilling it, and throwing away spoiled bird food.

A great tip to follow is to hang the bird feeder with a pulley. This will allow you to raise and lower the feeder at the desired height. You will be able to clean and refill it and keep it away from harm.

Tip #3 – Place it in a shaded area

with-a-pulley

Birds don’t necessarily need shade but the bird feeds do. Most bird feeders contain seeds, nut pieces, and nectar. These feeds are prone to spoilage if they are left out in the direct heat of the sun.

rees offer a more natural shade. But you can also hang them at a shaded spot on deck away from humans.

Moreover, you can also solve this by buying a bird feeder that prevents sun exposure. Some bird feeders have roofs and sun shields to prevent bird feed spoils.

Tip #4 – Pick a quiet spot

The reason why you are looking for bird feeder hanging ideas is that you want to attract birds to your area. Thus, you should not place the feeder near places that scare the birds away.

You should not place them in areas that have frequent activities like on balcony railings, patio, garage doors, and so on.

Moreover, you should avoid placing a wind chime near the bird feeder since it scares the birds.

In addition, avoid the roadside since frequent passing cars will shoo away the flying critters. It is best to place the feeder in the most secluded part of your garden.

Tip #5 – Be sure the birds see it

from-window

You should place the bird feeder in open areas where birds can easily spot them. They should also be seen by birds that are flying overhead.

A good tip is to place the bird feeder on deck walls. This area is not only wide open but also a great spot to sit back and watch the birds as they eat.

However, if you notice that birds are not approaching your feeder yet. Don’t conclude that they might not have seen it. It takes a while before birds notice new feeders.

Tip #6 – Avoid the windows

As a bird watcher, it can be tempting to place the bird feeder outside a window. However, this can be very dangerous to birds because of its transparent panes.

Birds may not see the barrier and crash on the windows. Thus, you should avoid placing the bird feeder by the window.

But if hanging the feeder by the window cannot be avoided, it is important to place it at a sufficient distance from window panes. Placing it more than ten feet from the window is safe enough for birds to fly by.

Tip #7 – Take the weather into account

The bird feeder is not only a place where birds can feed. It also serves as their shelter from bad weather. Thus, it is important to select a feeder that can serve these two purposes.

In addition, you need to take into account the weather in your area when hanging a bird feeder. You should avoid windy locations since birds can’t linger by a shaky feeder.

Furthermore, the wind can also cause seed spillage. As a result, not only will it cause a mess but also waste good bird feed.

Also, you need to check the weather from time to time. If storms are coming by your neighborhood, it is best to remove the bird feeders. Once the bad weather has passed, you can put it back again.

Tip #8 – Protect it from squirrels

best-way

Knowing how to hang bird feeder from tree branches is vital information. However, you need to make sure that squirrels cannot reach it.

Squirrels also like the seeds and nuts that birds eat. Thus, they will likely infest your bird feeders. To prevent them from stealing food, there is a method called the 5-7-9 rule that you can follow.

It is proven that squirrels could not jump five feet high or more from the ground. They can’t also cross more than seven feet from a tree or building by jumping. And lastly, they won’t drop nine feet from above onto a feeder.

If you can meet the required distances of this rule, you can prevent squirrels from invading your feeder. There are squirrels that go beyond their limitations. But they are still less compared to when placing the feeder in a vulnerable area.

Tip #9 – Make sure it’s near natural shelters

between-two-trees

As stated earlier, birds don’t immediately approach a bird feeder, if you place them too near your house.

A great tip to follow is to place the bird feeder near trees and shrubs. They mimic the bird’s natural habitat, offering the creatures a sense of security and tranquility.

Hanging Different Types of Bird Feeders

how-to-hang-bird-feeder-from-tree

There are different kinds of bird feeders that are found in the market. When selecting the right feeder, you need to ask yourself, “What type of birds do I want to attract to my feeder?”

That is because specific feeder designs entice certain types of birds. Here are some examples of feeders and some of the bird types they attract.

  • Fruit Feeders – Catbirds, Robins, Orioles, Tanagers, and Woodpeckers
  • Hopper Feeders – Buntings, Cardinals, Finches, Jays, Sparrows, and Titmice
  • Nectar Feeders – Hummingbirds, Orioles, and Woodpeckers
  • Suet Feeders – Chickadees, Jays, Nuthatches, and Wrens
  • Thistle Feeders – Chickadees, Finches, and Juncos
  • Tray Feeders – Doves, Pigeons, and Sparrows
  • Tube Feeders – Chickadees, Finches, and Nuthatches

Conclusion

The main point of our tips for hanging a bird feeder is to ensure that the place you hang the feeder is secure. It should be safe from harsh weather, other animals, and elements that can harm birds.

You should also make sure that the bird feeder spot will not scare the flying critters away. If you are looking for more tips and tricks about bird feeders, feel free to explore our other blog articles.

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