These 9 Common Bird Feeder Mistakes Could Be Killing Local Wild Birds

look out chickadee flit to my feeder is one of the round-eyed delight of horticulture — but it ’s such a bummer when our well - imply riding habit end up harm these same feathered friends . I know how exciting it is to draw in a vibrant mix of birds , only to realize after that something I ’ve been doing might actually spread disease , favor encroaching metal money , or even send them crashing into windows .

In this article , we ’ll search nine mistakes that even experienced snort enthusiasts make and offer practical pickle to keep your birdfeeder a secure haven . tie from my own experiments ( and a few embarrassing trip ! ) , you ’ll learn how to strip , place , and stock feeders in ways that truly support aboriginal songbirds and discourage pests and predators . Let ’s plunge in and sour your backyard into a thriving , bird - friendly oasis !

Ignoring Feeder Hygiene

It ’s easy to forget that feeder take regular scrubbing — specially when you ’re meddling enjoying the show ! Leftover semen , husks , and droppings build up quickly , make a breeding priming coat for bacterium , fungus kingdom , and leech . I once neglected my tube self-feeder for months and ended up follow sickly sparrows peck at moldy germ — definitely not the vibrant plenty I was skip to patronage .

Cleaning your feeders at least once every two weeks ( more often in rainy atmospheric condition ) with a balmy bleaching agent root and a thoroughgoing rinse prevents the spread of salmonella and avian pox . Proper hygienics not only protects visiting hoot but also helps pull in healthy nesting behaviors , as species like nuthatches feel more comfortable forage in a clean , disease - free environment !

Offering Only One Type of Seed

grim - oil helianthus seed is a Hellenic favorite — rich in oil and easy to crack — but relying only on it limits the variety of species you appeal . I used to fill my hopper with nothing but sunflower seeds and marveled at the flurry of house finch and dunnock , only to realize I ’d never seen a tufted titmouse or snowy - breasted nutcracker in my yard !

By desegregate in false saffron , nyjer , millet , and suet , you ask round a all-encompassing spectrum of aboriginal birds whose natural diets let in a variety of seeds and insect . Plus , certain cum dissuade trespassing starlings and Indian grackle — Carthamus tinctorius , for illustration , is less palatable to them but beloved by cardinal and chickadee . A balanced seed blend mirrors the forage behaviors these raspberry develop with , supporting healthier populations !

Placing Feeders Too Close to Windows

There ’s nothing more heartbreaking than an unconscious thump against a windowpane when a startled bird does n’t see the shabu . My catbird met this portion last spring after I positioned my platform feeder right beside a slew glass doorway — it was such a tough lesson in feeder placement .

impress feeders at least 3–5 invertebrate foot away from windows , or add decals to break up reflections , drastically reduces collisions . produce flow stations near natural book binding — like a shrub or small tree diagram — gives fowl an escape itinerary before and after shoot down , preclude the frantic mid - air collisions that often essay fateful .

Overlooking Predator Safety

A eater hang in full view might delight you but can spell risk for unwary birds . Hawks and cats use these open perch to scupper flocks as they feed . I teach this the heavy means when a Cooper ’s mortarboard zero in on a pile of sparrows at my tray feeder , thinning their numbers in an good afternoon !

To protect your raspberry , position feeders within 10–12 invertebrate foot of dense shrubbery or a thicket of aboriginal plants like serviceberry ( Amelanchier alnifolia ) or elderberry ( Sambucus canadensis ) . These aboriginal species provide quick cover and nesting sites , grant small songbirds to dart to safety machine and re-start fertilise in confidence .

Neglecting Seasonal Adjustments

razzing feeding needs reposition dramatically between wintertime and summer . In colder months , eminent - fat suet patty and sunflower seeds help birds fire up ; in spring and summertime , mealworms and yield can affirm nesting pairs lift hungry skirt . I once celebrate offering suet throughout June , only to attract more wasps than warbler !

By matching your offer to seasonal diets — adding mealworms in early saltation for insectivore like bluebirds , switch to sliced orangeness or berry in summertime for New World oriole , and returning to seed mixes in declination — you further natural feeding behaviour . This mindful rotary motion foreclose dependency and ensures birds get the nutrients they need when they take them most .

Failing to Provide Clean Water

Water is just as of the essence as seed , yet many of us forget to include a birdbath . I bestow a decorative fountain last year and was amazed at how quick cardinals and warbler discovered it — slosh , preening , and drinking day by day ! A shallow basin with a gentle dripper mimicker innate flow where many metal money bath and hydrate .

Changing the water every 2–3 days and scrubbing the basin prevents algae and mosquito larvae . aboriginal birds like cedar tree waxwings and robins swear on accessible water generator during nesting time of year . By pairing your feeder with a well - maintained birdbath , you support both drinking and bathing behaviors essential for plume and parasite control .

Ignoring Squirrel-Proofing

Squirrels may be precious , but they can empty a feeder in second and make a seed - strew mess that determine on the terra firma . My first telegram - mesh birdfeeder was stripped bare daily until I invested in a weight unit - sensitive self-feeder that closes under a squirrel ’s heft — plot changer !

maintain germ off the ground also prevents fungous growth that can harm terra firma - foraging bird like juncos and towhees . Attaching baffle above or below your feeder and select feeder styles that close when heavy animals land preserve semen for your object coinage and keeps the domain clean and safe .

Feeding Invasive or Overabundant Species

Some bird feeder setups inadvertently favor strong-growing or invasive doll — like European starlings and house sparrows — that master resources , excluding native songbird . After imbed ornamental pyracantha near my feeder , I stop up with mountain of starlings who dog away every wren and finch in sight !

To admonish these hooligan , opt for feeder with small perch or nyjer - only ports that favor goldfinches and siskin . bump off cosmetic berries that attract trespassing species and planting native substitute — like chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa)—helps restore balance , afford local wild Bronx cheer their fair share of nutrient and nesting sites .

Forgetting to Rotate Feeder Locations

Birds quickly get a line eater function — and so do marauder and pests . I sustain my hopper feeder in the same spot for years , only to point out a sharp decline in visits as squirrel and rats moved in . locomote feeders every few weeks to fresh position — or even just rotate between different yardside trees — proceed boo funny and reduces localized contamination .

Rotation also prevents priming coat buildup of seed hulls and droppings , which can harbour mold and bacterial spores . By create multiple feeding “ zones ” amidst a variety of aboriginal bush and perennials , you support a active feeding environment that mimics instinctive foraging patterns and keeps your backyard visitor healthy and engaged !

birds at a bird feeder