How To Make Birds
Find Your Bird Feeder

By Richard Worden

Who doesn’t love seeing wild birds in the sky? Or hearing them sing and going about their day to day lives? The only thing that would be better would be successfully inviting them into our gardens where we can experience them up close. This can be made easier by learning how to make birds find your bird feeder which is what we cover in this article.

To attract birds to your bird feeder, you should provide a variety of feed to attract insect, seed, and fruit-eating birds. It would help if you offered a variety of feeder types and kept them clean and full; providing a fresh water source near your feeder will also help attract feathered guests.

A bird feeder around your home can provide nourishment and safety for our feathered friends. They might be a bit slow locating it, but did you know that even if you change its place, they would eventually find it? This article will lightly touch on feathery food and lifestyle and focus on what you can do to make those beaky creatures find your bird feeder.

1. Provide Multiple Feeder Types To Attract a Variety of Birds

A bird lover might think that only one would not be enough to feed all of the birds that come to visit. Having more than one feeder increases the chances of these birdies coming to your bird feeders. For example, tube feeders are perfect for smaller birds who can't compete with larger birds in open feeders.

Here's a summary of which feeders will attract specific birds:

Hopper Feeders

These feeders look like a little house or lantern and make a quaint addition to your garden. Most hopper designs will feed several birds at once, and the best part is that the seed dispenses as the birds consume the tasty fare. You will attract many bird types with this feeder, including:

• Finches
• Chickadees
• Cardinals 
• Titmice
• Jays 

Large Hole Tube Feeders

These feeders are simple in design, with a removable cap and feeding ports with small perches where your bird friends can access the yummy seeds. The large hole tube feeders accommodate larger seeds such as the following:

• Blackbirds
• Grosbeaks 
• Siskins 
• Redpolls 
• Finches 

Small Hole Tube Feeders

These feeders follow the same systems as the large hole feeders but accommodate smaller seeds. The best part of these feeders is that larger birds find it difficult to access the smaller ports and perches—so your smaller visitors get a better chance at finding grub! Birds that love these feeders include:

• Chickadees
• Finches 
• Siskins 
• Redpolls

Metal Mesh Feeders

Mesh feeders are a great addition to your garden and are a type of mesh tube filled with seed that encourages birds that cling rather than larger bird species that find clinging uncomfortable. These feeders are great for black oil sunflower seeds and offer high squirrel resistance! Birds attracted to these feeders include the following:

• Woodpeckers
• Chickadees 
• Nuthatches

Platform Feeders

These feeders provide easy access to a variety of birds—providing a larger platform to attract all types of birds to your yard. The open access means you will have various types and sizes of birds eating together, and the best part is these platforms are obvious to passing birds.

2. Place Your Feeders Out in the Open To Attract Birds

It is not uncommon for birds to take a while to find your feeder. It can take a few days to a few weeks to see it. So be patient if you're new to this, and they will come to you.

Since birds rely primarily on sight for nourishment, spreading the food around (the seeds, grains, or fruit)  would be a great idea. The more area you cover, the higher the chances they will see it and go to investigate—visibility is crucial in their search for food.

You might need to offer another boost to get them to find the feeder. Like a children's storybook, give the birds a trail to follow. Scatter some seeds or nuts around the area to get them to follow the path that eventually leads to the feeder.

3. Use a Variety of Feed To Attract Different Birds

Until you are sure who your regular feathered guests will be, it's a good idea to have an assortment of food in the feeder. On the one hand, you're ensuring your feathery friends are well-fed and getting all the nutrients they need. On the other hand, variety in food will invite a variety in birds.

• Insectivorous birds: Birds such as cardinals and woodpeckers love a snack of mealworms 
• Fruit-eating birds: Orioles and robins will love a delicious fruit salad including apples, plums and mulberries.
• Seed-eating birds: Offer these birds a combination feed of millet, cracked corn, and the most enticing seed of all: black oil sunflower seeds.
  
  

4. Keep Your Feeders Consistently Clean and Full

Almost half of the birds in the animal kingdom migrate, while the other half don't. This fact means hungry birds are available all year round, especially in the winter. 

Always having food in the feeder ensures at least one of them will spot it and provide the enticement to make birds find your bird feeder. That, in turn, will invite more and more birds to come since they would get used to the spot—that's how to make birds find your bird feeder! You might even have to fill it up more than once per day.

However, to avoid contaminants that may spread from bird droppings, thoroughly clean your feeders at least twice a month. You can do this by following these easy steps:

1. Remove all visible debris or dropping with a scrubbing brush and warm water
2. Prepare a tub with distilled white vinegar and warm water in a 1:1 ratio.
3. Soak your feeder in the solution for 20 minutes or so.
4. Rinse the feeders with clean water.
5. Wait for the feeders to dry completely in the sun.
   
   

5. Provide a Fresh Water Source Near Your Feeder

All organic creatures require water to live. Birds drink it and bathe in it (yes, birds take showers too.) You're ensuring these avian creatures are comfortable with full bellies and quenched thirsts  by providing a water source, 

In fact, a clean and visible water source may be how to make birds find your bird feeder! Ensure you replace the water daily to keep the birds happy and healthy! 

6. Accessorize Your Feeding System

Granted, they don't require more than a bird feeder and some patience. Still, it wouldn't hurt if you glammed their style up a bit and pampered your little friends by providing more items that can make both your and their life easier (all recommendations are available on Amazon.com): 

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7. Learn the Birds in Your Area To Provide Enticing Feed

Learning about the birds that inhabit your particular area will arm you with the knowledge of what will attract them to your feeder. Knowledge is an excellent solution to how to make birds find your bird feeder.

For example, if your site has cardinals or bluejays, you could opt for black oil sunflowers and suet. If hummingbirds float your boat—try sugar water feeders and opt for red coloring on your feeders. They love the color. 

You could start learning about your local birds from this excellent guide: The Sibley Guide to Birds (available on Amazon.com). This guide is perfect for bird fans who want to take the hobby further. This book by David Allen Sibley has hundreds of bird pictures with descriptions. This book will significantly increase your knowledge, making you a better bird parent.

How To Make Birds Find Your Bird Feeder...Conclusion

If you want a pet that's low maintenance and won't run around your house or leave a mess, get a bird feeder, fill it up with food and wait. The best way to attract them is to ensure the following:

• Give a variety of feed choices
• Use a variety of feeders
• Make sure your feeders are visible 
• Keep your feeders clean and full
• Provide a freshwater source
• Accessorize with attractive items
• Learn about the birds in your area.
  
  

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Hi! I'm Richard Worden, the author and founder of We Know Birds.

Over 20 years ago I developed a keen interest in birds and birdwatching, and it has been my passion ever since. I am committed to spreading useful knowledge about birds to others so we might all enjoy them to the fullest.

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