How to Safely Attract Birds to Your Yard

Birdwatching is a hobby that allows you to enjoy the outdoors during all seasons no matter where you live. Hearing familiar bird songs throughout the day will be like listening to friends’ voices. After a year, you will welcome old friends back to the feeder and will be amazed at how many different species of birds visit your yard.

 

Attracting birds to your yard will take a little effort and some patience, but over a weekend you can set up very basic feeding and watering components. This does not need to be an expensive venture; you can choose to repurpose items or purchase specialized feeders and baths depending on your budget.

 

There are many considerations to factor in when placing bird feeders in your yard. Birds can be wary of feeders placed totally in the open. A good rule to follow is to place the feeder at least 10' from any building, fence, or large plant, like trees or shrubs. This will protect the birds by allowing them to see a predator approaching. In addition, this distance will deter squirrels from gaining access to the feeder. If your yard doesn’t allow for a 10' radius, you will definitely want to invest in caged-in feeders and posts with squirrel baffles to limit the seed loss due to squirrels. Be aware that any feeders placed on or near the ground are approachable by any animal that will eat the seed or food placed there. Placing seed feeders near trees, shrubs, brush piles, and such will provide a perching location for birds to approach when they are comfortable with the surrounding conditions.

 

Feeders can be placed on the ground, on poles, on fence posts, or hung from a tree branch. The location depends on what options you have with your yard. Since hummingbirds are attracted to nectar, placing a hummingbird feeder near flowers that they naturally visit will make it easy for them to notice a new feeder. If you have a window that is accessible, a window feeder can be a lot of fun. These are usually clear acrylic platforms that allow you to see the birds up close.

 

According to the American Bird Conservancy, about 2.5 billion birds are killed each year by household cats. To prevent the birds in your yard from becoming victims of felines, there are several things you can do to protect the birds. Placing feeders more than 10' away from shrubs will allow birds to see a cat approaching. Placing bells on cats’ collars provides a little warning for birds to flee the area.

 

If you like, you can also attract birds by providing shelter in the form of birdhouses during the nesting months. Imagine your backyard as a haven for birds. Whatever degree of interest you have in your local feathered friends, you are sure to start a lifelong hobby in bird-watching.