Bird feeder height

Mimsly · #1 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 03:36 PM

Hi

I've just joined the site and am new to enjoying wildlife. I have just bought a bird feeding station but wondered if there was a minumum height that I should be setting it at as mine seems a bit low to attract birds? Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

John · #2 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 06:57 PM

Hi Mimsly

First of all a warm welcome to WAB from me. You don't say what area you live in or what type of garden you have. Do you live in a town or in the country?

I have four feeder stations, all at varying heights. I have one feeder station that hangs from branches that are eight feet and another six feet from the ground, also one that is about five feet from the ground and one that hangs from brackets just over four feet from the ground (this means the actual base of the feeder is only about three feet from the ground). The feeder station in the front garden has large feeders on them hanging from branches and the base of the hearts feeder is less than four feet from the ground.

I think more importantly is where you site the feeder. Site it close to good cover so that if any birds feel threatened (predator about is one reason) they have a quick escape route. This will allow them to feel more confident about using your feeders.

Also use a few different feeds but especially sunflower hearts. Birds, especially finches, love hearts. Fat balls are also a good addition as are peanuts (good quality please). Mixed seed (again good quality) is another I use.

There are many other forms of food to check out but the basic starting point is sunflower hearts, peanuts, mixed seed, and fat balls. Check out on the internet where you can get good quality seed at the right price. It's best to bulk bulk if you can as buying smallish amounts from local seed shops becomes prohibitive cost wise. I usually get mine when I call into a friends in Suffolk from Charnwoods. They're based in Framlingham. I'm sure you will have one close to you. I buy large quantities as my feeder stations are established and well used.

Next weekend I am calling at my mates in Suffolk and I will be buying 5 x 25kg of hearts, 2 x 25 kg of mixed seed, 2 boxes of 100 each box of fat balls and 20 kg of peanuts. That's not that far off £200 for that lot and that will last me about 5 to six months, unless the birds really get stuck in. I have been known to go through that amount in three months.

One thing to remember. Regularly clean your feeders, and around your feeder station, as disease can cause havoc to feeder stations not maintained properly.

Another point is if your feeder station becomes very successful it could become quite expensive to maintain the feed on a regular basis.

Hope that helps and good luck with your feeder station.

John

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mimsly

Hi

I've just joined the site and am new to enjoying wildlife. I have just bought a bird feeding station but wondered if there was a minumum height that I should be setting it at as mine seems a bit low to attract birds? Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Mimsly · #3 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 11:35 AM

Thanks John, that's a great help.

I live in Swindon in Wiltshire and my garden is about 50ft x 18ft. Although the garden is on an estate it is surrounded by fields on one side and a stream on the other. I have sited my feeder about 2/3rds of the way across my garden closer to my neighbours well established garden. The feeder is about 6 feet tall and the lowest hanger is about 5 feet from the ground so it sounds as though I could be OK.

Like I said I am new to this so was very surprised to see both a robin and a blue and yellow bird (which I had previously seen climbing the walls of my house) visiting the feeder. I thought it would be just sparrows, which goes to show just how little I know. Now all of a sudden I have started noticing every twitch in the trees and bushes - just wonderful!

Thanks for the advice on the food. I have bought fat balls (but will be making my own soon), some seed with mealworms and peanuts. There are quite a lot of gulls and magpies around this area, do you think they will be like to be attracted and possibly see the other smaller birds off? If so is there anything I could do about this?

John · #4 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 06:32 PM

Hi Mimsly

I also live on a housing estate but unlike you I am surrounded by houses.

If you could site your feeder close to a tree or bushes that would be a big help rather than out into the open a bit (unless your site is already by that sort of vegetation). Your birds will grow in confidence using the protection of the vegetation and start to venture out to your feeders more knowing that if any problems arise they can nip back into their little hiding places.

Sounds like your small bird could be a Blue Tit and regarding your Magpies and Gulls, the Gulls shouldn't present a problem. Magpies call into my garden but don't cause any problems for me. I wouldn't worry about them unless they do start to cause problems, but even then there is little you can do to stop them, short of not feeding the birds altogether.

You can't protect the birds that visit your garden. All you can do is feed them, knowing that is important for your little visitors. There will nearly always be casualties, especially by the local Sparrowhawks but that is life for our garden birds.

Being near fields and a stream there is a good chance you might get some surprise birds. If you have a camera you might even capture the odd visitor to your garden.

Get yourself a cheap field guide, if you haven't got one already, and study the illustrations. Pretty soon you will learn the few common birds that are likely to visit you such as Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Blackbird, Wren etc.

BTW once Winter moves in a few rotting apples on the ground might pull in the thrushes such as Fieldfare into your garden.

Good luck and lets hope you start to get a few more species visiting you.

John

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mimsly

Thanks John, that's a great help.

I live in Swindon in Wiltshire and my garden is about 50ft x 18ft. Although the garden is on an estate it is surrounded by fields on one side and a stream on the other. I have sited my feeder about 2/3rds of the way across my garden closer to my neighbours well established garden. The feeder is about 6 feet tall and the lowest hanger is about 5 feet from the ground so it sounds as though I could be OK.

Like I said I am new to this so was very surprised to see both a robin and a blue and yellow bird (which I had previously seen climbing the walls of my house) visiting the feeder. I thought it would be just sparrows, which goes to show just how little I know. Now all of a sudden I have started noticing every twitch in the trees and bushes - just wonderful!

Thanks for the advice on the food. I have bought fat balls (but will be making my own soon), some seed with mealworms and peanuts. There are quite a lot of gulls and magpies around this area, do you think they will be like to be attracted and possibly see the other smaller birds off? If so is there anything I could do about this?

bobbarber · #5 (**permalink**) 13-10-2009, 12:43 AM

Quote:

live in Swindon in Wiltshire and my garden is about 50ft x 18ft. Although the garden is on an estate it is surrounded by fields on one side and a stream on the other. I have sited my feeder about 2/3rds of the way across my garden closer to my neighbours well established garden. The feeder is ike I said I am new to this so was very surprised to see both a robin and a blue and yellow bird (which I had previously seen climbing the walls of my house) visiting the feeder. I thought it would be just sparrows, which goes to show just how little I know. Now all of a sudden I have started noticing every twitch in the trees and bushes - just wonderful!

Hello Mimsly a warm welcome to WAB and the world of bird watching. Can I recommend a book that you might find useful , it`s called ``Bird-Friendly garden`` by Stephen Moss and is a month by month guide to attracting birds to your garden...Bob

Picidae · #6 (**permalink**) 13-10-2009, 08:33 AM

Hi Mimsly

Nothing I can add to John's helpful hints.

You may want to think about joining the RSPB - You'll get an excellent starter colour illustrated bird book FREE (RSPB Handbook of British Birds)! You'll also get a stunning quarterly glossy magazine with all sorts of photos/bird related features in, many to do with common garden birds and environmental issues etc. You'll also get free entry into all the RSPB bird reserves around the Country.

You will also be able to buy food and feeders online with free delivery at the RSPB website.

Your money will all go towards supporting the great job the RSPB are doing to help preserve habitat and conserve species of fauna and flora.

The RSPB: Join the RSPB: Membership benefits

Mimsly · #7 (**permalink**) 15-10-2009, 12:53 PM

Thanks everyone for your useful tips. I think I might just resite the feeder slightly closer to the bushes as it does seem a bit exposed. I've seen lots of motion in the bushes there but they don't seem to be venturing any further. I guess I have to be patient until word gets around that there is a new cafe open in town.

I like the sound of joining the RSPB so will look into that today. Once again thanks.