For all feeders
Be sure to place your feeder 8-12 feet from natural structures – native shrubs, trees, ground cover, etc. These act as escape hatches from predators and will give wild birds the confidence they need to visit your feeder.
Big no-no
Don’t place your feeders on a pole system in the middle of a big green sea of grass. Without a bush, shrub or tree nearby to hide from predators, birds won’t feel safe coming to your feeders. The solution: plant some native shrubs or trees. Or simply make a brush pile near your feeder to give birds a place to take shelter between visits to your feeders.
Quiet time
Place your feeders where the birds won’t experience constant disruptions, such as doors opening, foot traffic play sets or dog runs.
Window strikes
More than 365 million birds die in the US each year from window strikes. So, place your feeders either within 3 feet of windows or more than 10 feet away from windows. At 3 feet, the birds won’t hit your window hard enough to hurt themselves. At more than 10 feet, they’ll have time to maneuver away. Anything in between is the danger zone!
Cats
Cats kill up to 3.7 billion birds in the U.S. each year. They’re cute…but they’re also predatory hunters conditioned by millions of years of evolution. So please keep your cats indoors. Always. It’ll protect them from ticks, cars and other calamities. And it’ll protect the wild birds you love, too.
Enjoy the view
Place feeders where you can see them and where they’re easy to reach and fill! After all, we feed wild birds to connect with nature. Be sure your feeders are easily within sight so that you can enjoy the show!
