Bird feeder help

[2kids2shoot]

What do I need to do to attract bird to my birdfeeders? I got them for my daughters along with id books for Christmas since they were facinated with the birds that Oma had coming to her house. They've been up for 4 days with no visitors. Any suggestions?

Can't take any pictures if I don't get dinner guests...

[mjs1973]

My guess is that you just need to wait and give it some time. Perhaps most of the birds in your area have already established a steady supply of food form others in your neighborhood. I bet if you give it a little more time, they will find their way to it. I'm just a bird nerd in training so maybe this has nothing to do with it. Perhaps they just haven't found it yet. I read/heard once that birds get 75% of their food from the wild, even when feeders are available.

It could also depend on what you have in it for food, and the location of the feeder. Can you give us more info such as what type of feed, location and type of feeder? That might help us come up with something.

[srobb]

Mike is on the right track with his post. Knowing the location of and type of feeders would help some. Also the type of seed you are using in them. That has a lot to do with what type of birds will come there. It will take some time for the birds to recognize your feeders as a food source, but when they do you will have a steady flow of company.

Where you live will also play a part in all this. If you go through an actual winter, you want to make shure you keep the feeders full at all times. This is simply for the birds sake. I am by no means a full fledged bird nerd, but I have alreadygone through this myself earlier this year.

[2kids2shoot]

I have 2 feeders one on a window about 5 feet up (I'm keeping the blinds down for now) no bushes or anything within 10 feet. I have a second in a magnolia tree about 4 feet up. I'm not totally sure about the food but it is a mix with peanuts, sunflower, fruit and of course those tiny little yellow ones. Supposedly to attract orioles and cardinal types. I'm thinking of switching one to thistle seed.

My yard has an open grass on one side for about an acre and woods (mostly everygreens - I'm in Oregon) pretty close on another. We are also pretty close to a wetland. I don't think Oregon gets a real winter. We're typically in the upper 40's during the day and rarely get below freezing. Since we get a mild winter and I'm next to a faily decent sized woody area I suspect the birds have a pretty good feed supply.

The birds I have seen are robins, stellar jays, sparrows, spotted towhee (I think that's right). In the area I know we have finches as well.

I figure that it might take a while for the birds to figure out that there are feeders there, I just don't know what to expect for "a while". Thanks for your help.

[srobb]

No problem on the help. That is why we are all here for each other. ;)

You said something about fruit in your feeders so I have another question. What type of feeders do you use? Are they a perch type, or a simple pan feeder?

I can tell you that the black oil sunflower seeds is one of the best for attracting cardinals. Not sure where you get your seed at, but any Lowe's, or Wildbirds Unlimited (if you have any of those up there) will have seed mixes just for particular types of birds.

It can take a week or two before the birds are coming to the feeders on a regular basis. I would just suggest checking them especially during the early morning and late evening hours to check for any visitors.

[paulnj]

PUT SOME SUNFLOWER SEEDS on the ground near the magnolia tree and hopefully the jays or even squirrels will find them.Once a squirrel or bird finds the feeder, you are in business! If after a week or two you don't get birds on that feeder, I would suggest moving it closer to an evergreen. ONCE the birds recognise the feeder in the evergreens as a source of food(give it a week of them feeding on it) , move it back.

I would suggest getting straight black oil sunflower seeds and maybe even pick up a thistle tube feeder and nyger thistle for the finches exclusively.Do not let it run dry or the birds may abandon it.

The window feeder may take a long time to get birds too though. Mine took 3 weeks and it is 2 feet from a large evergreen were they hide.

[2kids2shoot]

I have put some seeds on the ground per a suggestion in one of my books. I checked yesterday and they were gone and it seemed as though someone had been at some seeds in the feeder in the magnolia so that one looks like it had at nibble at least.

I'll switch the window to thistle seeds. That one's closer to the woody area. I've been keeping the blinds down so as not to startle any potential visitors.

Thanks again for your suggestions. Hopefully my next post will be a picture of birds at feeder though I suspect I'll have to wait until they're comfortable. I have time...

[ken1953]

Another question about birdfeeders??? I've heard that color is also important for the type of bird you are trying to attract, such as blue for bluejays, and red for cardinals. Is this true? I'm getting ready to put out some feeders here and I have a very large bluejay that has been in the area for a long time and I'd like to draw in more and maybe some cardinals, as well as others. And I'm definitely planning on lots of humming bird feeders!!!
Ken

[paulnj]

That to me sounds a bit unfounded, but you never know? I know that only a fool wears red or bright colored clothing to go find birds

EARTH TONES are my deal for feeders or outdoor wear.

HUMMINGBIRDS are different though, since they are nectar feeders I and just about everyone who feeds hummingbirds like RED feeders. Just remember that you need to change the sugar water in the feeder every few days. Have you ever drank fermented sugar water before, HUMMINGBIRDS DON'T!!!!

[mjs1973]

I've heard that color is also important for the type of bird you are trying to attract, such as blue for bluejays, and red for cardinals. Is this true?

I heard this too Ken, and I posted this same question a while back. It might be in one of the original bird ID threads but I don't feel like looking thru them for it. I was told to tie a piece of ribbon on the feeder. Red to attract cardinals, blue for blue jays, just like you said. The idea was that if there is a cardinal in the area, it would see the red ribbon and think it was another cardinal invading it's teritory and come over to check it out. Once the realize there is no threat, AND food available, they will keep coming back.

If I remember correctly, Paul replied and basically said the same thing he did about your post, so I never bothered to try it out. Perhaps an experiment during the breeding season would be worth a shot.

I also put out a humming bird feeder last summer, but all I got were ants. I will try it again this spring tho.

[paulnj]

http://www.birdfeeding.org/site/nbs.faq_arch

http://www.srsefair.org/Auburn-Journal.htm

I have seen GALLON SIZED nectar feeders go empty in AZ within 6 hours. All you need to do to feed hummingbirds is get a clear nectar and add a bit of food coloring(red is color of choice)