How to attract birds?

[Hope]

We have a lot of robins and bluejays that come to our front yard. We wanted to entice them to come to our backyard so we attached a seed bell to our tree. So far, no luck. We also set up a hummingbird feeder in front of our kitchen window (also in our backyard), but we haven't had any yet.

How does one attract birds? We enjoy them and would like to set up an environment where they would like to come.

[Cindy in CA]

I am thinking you are in CA, and if so you are probably getting the Scrub Jay in your front yard. Scrub Jays love peanuts, so if you throw those out in the morning consistently in your backyard, they will come soon. Get the ones that are unsalted and still in the shell. Also the bell is a good start, but there are a lot of ground birds too who prefer to eat off the ground. So get a bag of just wild bird seed and either put it into a flat plate, I have used pie pans, paper plates, or just throw seeds out onto the ground in your yard. Do it daily at the same time. They will come. I would do a few more feeders too, but that should get you started.

:)

[Hope]

Thank you for the suggestions, Cindy. You are right, I'm in California. :hi:




ETA: I added my location to my profile.

[Stacia]

Cindy has good advice. A variety of feeders & types of food help attract a wider variety of birds. Also, a water supply of some sort helps attact birds.

Do they have any type of 'cover' while in your yard? (Bushes/trees, etc....) Birds will feel more comfortable w/ some nearby 'safe' places too.

Since you're busy attracting birds to your yard, be sure to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count (http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/) (Feb. 17-20)! :)

[Kendra AU]

Just keep in mind that once they start coming they won't go away just because food isn't present. Be sure the area you set up for them won't be irritating later on.. You really don't want to know how I know this. :lol:

[Jennifer Unsell]

Just keep in mind that once they start coming they won't go away just because food isn't present. Be sure the area you set up for them won't be irritating later on.. You really don't want to know how I know this. :lol:

:lol:

[Cindy in CA]

For us, when we stop putting out food, they pretty much stop coming. There are other places to go.

It probably depends on area, and how much food is available. A lot of our neighbors feed the squirrels, and birds around here.

:)

[Rebe]

For us, when we stop putting out food, they pretty much stop coming.

This is the case here, too.

Be careful of continuing to feed them in the spring/summer. I did that one year (my dh thought they were "used" to being fed so we should keep doing it, so I caved). Big mistake. All we got were nuisance birds -- grackles and starlings. :p Yuck. So I feed now only from about October through March or April. This may also vary according to where you live, though.

I've never used a seed bell. :unsure: I use good-quality loose seed and a squirrel-proof feeder. Make sure to get the kind of seed you need for the kinds of birds you want to attract. Robins really don't eat seed, do they? Ours don't; they eat worms and bugs. Blue jays are beautiful but are also bullies. They'll chase other birds away from your feeder. Plus, they have ugly voices. ;)

I agree with the hint of placing feeders near shelter. We have a large number of birds coming to our one feeder because it hangs from a tree branch and is very close to several yew bushes.