Question by kazoo1991: How to attract birds to new bird feeder hung up in yard?
I hung a new bird feeder up in a tree where the small birds like to gather close by to eat around the shrubs.
But it has been two days and they still have not noticed the feeder with all that seed in it.
Anything I can do to attract the birds toward the feeder?
Best answer:
Answer by Anonymous
you really can’t do anything about it. the bird feeder usually attracts birds on its own, that’s the whole point.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Posted in 
Tags:
Don’t worry, they know it’s there! Birds are naturally timid so they’re waiting to see who is game enough to go first, after that they’ll all be in like flint.
This time of year your feeder is competing with natural food sources that birds like better. The seed eaters will be around more in the winter when their natural sources of food are scarce. This time of year many people put their seed feeders away and put up hummingbird feeders. You don’t need to buy special food to feed hummingbirds. Follow the link if you are interested.
sprinkle some seeds around the bushes and then sprinkle some under the feeder. sit back and wait.
works every time … unless the birds are eating bugs and don’t eat bird seed.
good luck.
Each bird type will eat specific types of food, so don’t expect that all of yours will eat from your feeder – depending on what feeds you’ve added.
Your birds will have noticed your feeder, it’s just that they take some time to adjust to it, and develop their trust. I’d identify the birds that you have around, and check that you have seeds that they will eat. As others say, birds do vary what they eat, including naturally available food, though often when they’re rearing young is a good time for them to have plenty of food around to feed them. For this reason, it’s highly recommended to have food and water out for birds at all times in the year – they do get to rely on it, so get someone to fill your feeder if you’re away etc, In winter time it’s great to provide high energy feeds, including fat blocks etc.
Otherwise, birds that are perhaps not in your yard at the moment will also be enticed in – I’ve put Nyger seeds out, that some finches love, and after waiting a few weeks, they miraculously turned up – as if knowing it was there by some 6th sense!
So, have some patience, check that you’ve got the right type of feed for your birds, as well as the best way to feed them -some prefer to eat off flat surfaces, such as the floor or bird tables. Don’t have food on the floor if there’s a high risk of cats etc.
Over time, it’s probably worth adding an alternative type of feed too, such as having mixed seeds and a specific feed type, such as sunflower hearts. More variety will attract a more diverse group of birds in, and just ensure that you have water out too, as they like to bathe and drink, and water is often scarce in summer time.
Final tip – clean your feeders often, as communal feeding places are easy ways for bugs to be passed between birds.
Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob