As spring approaches and nesting season begins in March, wildlife experts recommend positioning bird feeders in key garden location to keep birds safe from predators.
With spring approaching and nesting season kicking off in March, plenty of nature enthusiasts will be getting ready to support their neighbourhood birds. One effective method of helping birds during this period is by installing bird feeders.
At this time of year, natural food supplies become scarce, so offering treats like nuts, seeds and suet can give birds a crucial energy lift.
Once you’ve bought a bird feeder, working out the ideal spot to position it can be tricky. Where you site them determines not just whether garden birds will use them, but also which species you’ll attract.
To ensure birds remain safe whilst feeding, specialists at retailer Really Wild Bird Food suggest positioning your feeder close to natural cover, such as trees or bushes, within reasonable view of a window. They explained: “This will keep them hidden from predators and sheltered from direct sunlight and harsh weather conditions.”
However, avoid placing your feeders right beside trees. This makes it far too simple for squirrels and other local creatures to pinch your bird food.
You might think that putting your bird feeder near a window is ill-advised; naturally, you’d want to prevent birds from accidentally colliding with the glass and harming themselves.
Yet, it can actually be more dangerous to position bird feeders at a distance from your windows, as this allows the birds to build up momentum before striking the glass. The experts advised: “For this reason, we recommend positioning your bird feeder a couple of feet away from the window at most.
That way, if a bird takes off in the direction of your windows or glass doors, it won’t be flying fast enough to cause serious injury. Better still, place your feeder directly on the window or windowsill.”
It’s suggested you position your bird feeder roughly five feet off the ground. This height makes it convenient for you to refill and maintain the feeder whilst also preventing pets and other creatures from pinching your bird food.
If you find that particular birds aren’t turning up at your feeder, you may want to consider adjusting the height or adding extra feeders at various heights from the ground.
For instance, woodpeckers prefer feeding high up in trees, so suspending a feeder at six to 10 feet above ground level might help to entice them. Other species, including blackbirds, robins and chaffinches, favour eating from ground feeders.