Starting your day with a glimpse of the adorable winged creatures visiting your place is sure to uplift your mood and carve a smile on your face. For this, a bird feeder can be a spectacular addition to your backyard.
But…
Your bird feeder will be only as good as the way you set it up.
You may have the best options for mounting your feeder, but even the most high-end product won’t do you much good without proper technique.
You’ve got other options too, you could mount your hanger on a wall or tree, but in either case, you have a bundle of factors to consider.
Not to worry though, I’m here to help make things as simple as they can be.
So, let’s get started.
Mounting A Bird Feeder Properly
Let’s cut to the chase, here are the factors you need to consider when hanging a bird feeder in your backyard:
You Can Also Use The Trees In Your Backyard
You can hang the feeder on one of those luscious trees in your backyard. This way, you’ll make the birds feel more at home which may tempt them into visiting again and again.
And it’s economic too.
Don’t hang the feeder too high or too low, remember, accessibility is key here. The whole ensemble should be completely stable and the hooks should be well lodged in so that your bird feeder can withstand weight and pressure.
Use Hanging Brackets Where Possible
If your feeder requires cleaning up or is a bit fragile, then consider using a hanging bracket. This way, you can keep your feeder in a more convenient place, avoiding any hassle. Do some research about the type of feeder you’re planning on using.
This way, you’ll know how much maintenance it will need or if it is fragile or not. Depending on these factors, you may or may not want to use hanging brackets.
Be Innovative
You have a virtually endless host of options when it comes to hanging your feeder.
You can use casements, rails, walls, trees, hanging brackets, hanging poles, and so on. The point is that you can use any stable mounting surface for your feeder, just think out of the box.
Choose The Right Spot
The location is just as important for hanging your feeder as anything else.
Choose a spot that is sure to protect the feeder against bad weather, perhaps something with an overhead cover (like a tree’s canopy). Also, make sure that the birds are not hindered by walls or other objects when reaching the feeding spot (because they may dart forward at high speeds).
Try to pick a place where a strong gust won’t blow off the seeds and where birds can seek refuge from the rain and similar problems. Having a cover on top will also safeguard the seeds from spoilage.
Make Your Feeder Easy To Locate
Consider the whole thing from a bird’s perspective.
Your feeder should be easily visible to the feathery beings fluttering their wings and darting across the sky. A well-sheltered feeder might make some permanent guests, whereas a feeder placed directly under the open sky will attract more birds (but will be vulnerable to the weather).
Try and find a middle ground between the two: make the feeding location both easy to spot but also safe from the weather.
Ideally, it should allow you to relish the enchanting scenario as well.
Don’t worry if the birds don’t visit your feeder immediately, give them some time to locate it, and open up to a new feeding spot. Wait for a week or two, but if still there are no guests then try changing the location or tweaking some other details.
Place your feeder near-natural greenery, that is bound to attract the attention of your feathered visitors. You should also add different types of birdseed to attract as many bird species as possible.
Tempt The Birds With A Touch Of Nature
Birds are the icons of nature, they love to roam the sky and settling in trees. You need to emulate a natural environment to make the birds feel at ease. Try choosing a spot that is dotted by plants, bushes, and trees, preferably having an air loaded with the scent of flowers.
This will give your guests a sense of security and deliver a much-needed touch of nature.
Equip Your Feeder With Water
Adding water along with food is a great idea to welcome birds. To spice up things even further, you can add a birdbath too.
But before that, you might need to consider some other factors such as your budget and the size of your feeder, but if you manage to pull it off, you will not regret it.
The water bath will also require regular cleaning, so be ready for a solid commitment.
The Color Says A Lot
Go for the color that is most likely to attract birds, like red, orange, yellow, and blue, anything bright and vibrant – take the colors of flowers in your region as a reference.
You can even incorporate shrubs and different sorts of decorations to your ensemble to make it more catchy.
Just play with all sorts of bright colors and have fun, the birds will love it too!
Avoiding Unwanted Guests
The feeder will also appeal to some unwanted guests like insects, squirrels, and other pestilences. To avoid this, you can put the feeder high enough to make it inaccessible for squirrels and insects. Or, you can buy a specially designed feeder that is prepared to avoid such animals.
Keep a close eye on any infestation and pestilence, the danger is ever-present.
Avoiding Collisions
Birds usually travel at high speeds when they locate food and can end up getting injured if they can’t stop themselves in time. Just keep the feeder at a safe distance from walls or anything that the birds might crash into, and that’s pretty much it.
Bottom Line
Once mounted properly, the feeder will continue to attract more and more feathery visitors. It will demand proper care on your part too, be sure to keep it clean and properly supplied. The whole process may require hard work and eternal vigilance, but it will all be worth it!
Do try out my tips and let me know how it works out in the comments section below.
