New Bird Feeder? Don't Just Put The Food Inside, Spread It Around!

There are many simple pleasures in life: that first sip of hot coffee on your patio, the feeling of fresh sheets when you crawl into bed, and watching beautiful birds congregate around a feeder in your yard. If you consider yourself a bird watcher, you know the excitement associated with a newly acquired bird feeder. Just because you purchased one and filled it with enticing seed, however, doesn't mean that birds will immediately flock to it. If you want to benefit from having a bird feeder in your yard, it's important to advertise the new feeder to your flying friends.

While birds will happily come to a new feeder once they are acquainted with it, birds are wild animals that won't automatically associate the sight of a new feeder with food. Because of this, you'll need to scatter bird seed around the feeder to visually entice them to check out the new apparatus in your yard. Throwing a few handfuls of seed around the vicinity of the feeder will draw them closer; in time, they'll flutter up to the feeder and begin to feast. 

Patience is key, though, as it could take birds several weeks before they register that the feeder is for their use. During the wait, be sure that the seed in the feeder is fresh and not wet or spoiled; this will hurt your chances of avian friends frequenting it. You may also want to play around with putting your feeders at different heights, which is key for attracting birds.

To attract birds to your new feeder, you'll want to start by spreading your birdseed far enough to draw distant birds but close enough that they know where to look for more. You can try to sprinkle seed on the pavement below and around the feeder, and spread some on the grass or gravel on the ground to give them a trail to follow, too. 

Even once they've learned the feeder is filled with yummy treats, birds need safe conditions in order to want to feed. For a hands-off solution, install the new bird feeder in a part of the yard that your dog never ventures into — such as the front or side yard. If your neighborhood is inundated with stray or feral cats, it is also wise to install your new bird feeder in an area with a sufficient clearing — ideally about 12 feet from bushes or other hiding places. This gives birds a safer environment to relax and eat, as they will be more easily able to spot a cat in the distance.

It's also worth noting that if you want to attract more birds to your yard, you may need to up your bird feeder game. Bird seed is a precious commodity for birds (and squirrels), but a single feeder will not be able to keep up with the demand of wild birds. Positioning a few bird feeders around the yard will attract more visitors and reduce competition. Lastly, if you have a bird feeder but no birds, consider adding a crucial bird bath.