Five Feeders Every Yard Should Have

Ground/Window/Platform Feeding Tables

Ground and platform feeders should be placed in an open area - about 10 feet from the nearest shrub (where birds have a chance to flee in the event of an attack). Window feeders are a great way to view birds feeding, especially when space is limited. It may take a couple days for birds to become comfortable coming up to the window, so be patient. Ground and window feeders are especially favored by doves, juncos, sparrows, towhees, goldfinches, and cardinals.

Sunflower-Seed Tube Feeders

This is the best choice if you are going to put out just one bird feeder. Metal ports around the seed dispensers work best to protect the feeder from nibbling squirrels and house sparrows. Hang the feeder at least five feet off the ground. These feeders are especially attractive to small birds such as chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, goldfinches, siskins, purple and house finches. 

Hopper Feeders

Hopper feeders provide dry storage for several pounds of mixed seed, which tumbles forward on demand. Position hopper feeders on a pole or hang with a rope so the feeder is about five feet off the ground. Hopper feeders attract all of the specias tube feeders attract, as well as such larger birds as jay, grackles, red-winged blackbirds, and cardinals. You may want to cinsdier a pole mounted or hanging baffle to deter squirrels from reaching the feeder. 

Suet Feeders

Suet is reaily eaten by titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers. In addition to the regular suet-feeder visitors, wrens, creepers, and warbles occasionally pick at these mixes. You can hang suet cakes from trees in durable cage feeders. Suet feeders are made from a variety of materials, such as metal, recycled plastic, or wood.

Nyjer (Thistle) Feeders

Especially designed to dispense Nyjer seed (also known as thistle seed) these feeders typically have tiny holes that make the seed available only to small-beaked finches such as goldfinches, redpolls, and pine siskins. Hang your Nyjer seed feeder from a tree or place it on a five foot pole near other feeders, taking care to protect it from squirrels with a special baffle. Finch seed mixtures also work equally as well in this type of feeder. 

Share this on Twitter  |  Share this on Facebook  |  Email to a friend.