Start with feeders placed in the open to attract as many birds as possible if you are visited daily by a large number of birds, even if in a neighbor’s yard.
It’s a no-brainer that having your feeders in a visible location increases the likelihood of visits from a wide variety of birds. Locations in the open can be in the middle of a yard or on a deck, but it’s best if there aren’t any overhead impediments other than trees.
If you want to attract a variety of bird species to your yard, the feeders you set up should be easily accessible to them.
Hummingbird feeders, for example, should be positioned so that they are shaded from the full sunlight, but in general, you should try to set your feeders where passing birds can see them.
If you have a large number of birds visiting your yard on a daily basis, you likely just need to hang feeders in the areas of your yard that the birds visit most often, such as from a certain tree.
If you put out feeders in the open, you’re essentially inviting every bird you know; if you hide them, only the birds who know your yard has feeders will visit.
Place the feeder in an unrestricted area to attract a wider variety of birds.
Keeping this in mind, it’s important to have bird feeders in close proximity to natural cover so that birds can easily fly away if they need to hide or feed at a greater distance.
Situate feeders out in open
Every type of bird feeder, with a few notable exceptions, needs to be placed in a public area where both tiny and large birds may easily find food.
Place bird feeders in a visible area in the middle of your yard, patio, or deck if you choose, but make sure the birds can easily get to them.
It’s important to keep in mind that the bird feeders should be placed where you can easily see them; otherwise, you’ll miss out on the pleasure of watching the birds feed.
The only time you shouldn’t put out a bird feeder is if you’re going to have to hang it from a bracket on a wall or fence and are thus unable to provide the extra area required for larger birds.
When food is plentiful, birds of all sizes will visit a feeder even if it is in a more confined area.
Keep a watch on things, because you might need to relocate the bird feeders individually or collectively at some point to see more birds coming to feed.
Feeders visible in clearing
Bird feeders should be placed in an open area, such as the middle of the grass or a deck or patio where they won’t be obstructed by flying birds.
Birds won’t stop at a feeder if they can’t see it from a distance.
If you need to place a bird feeder in the shade and out of the full strength of direct sun — which destroys the bird food within days, rather than the week food usually lasts — then you can make an exception to the rule of re-locating a bird feeder in a more limited location.
Clearings between trees, bushes, hedgerows, and other vegetation are fine, so long as the birds won’t be unable to see the feeder from above.
Similarly, if a bird feeder is placed close to a house, for example by being hung from a wall bracket, it will be much less visible, leading to a smaller number of birds visiting the feeder.
If you want your bird feeders to attract the most birds, you need first determine the areas of your yard where birds congregate most frequently.
However, bird feeders should be placed near vegetation, as this provides birds with a natural hiding place.
Still close too foliage
Natural canopy in trees and plants can be scant near you because it is not always simple to attract birds to what could be a concrete jungle of a neighborhood.
However, a bird feeder placed in the open still needs to be near natural vegetation if it is to attract birds.
Feeders can be placed up to 6 feet from the nearest point of natural cover, although closer is better.
Not so close that backyard birds can’t see the feeders, yet not so far that the cover of vegetation can’t be used. Whenever birds notice feeders being used, they know they need to get out of there fast to avoid being seen or to find a new place to eat.
If birds often visit your yard, they likely already know the best spots to place feeders, such as under or under the natural coverage of hedgerows or trees.
Instead of placing feeders in an open area, they might be hung from the branches of trees that are frequently visited by birds.
As a precaution, put feeders in the open for the time being, but otherwise situate them so that they can be seen from above using whatever method you find most effective.
For the time being, it is advisable to locate feeders out in the open, rather than in secluded areas like a porch or a window.
When you have trouble luring birds to your backyard in general, let alone getting them to utilize your feeders, the location of those feeders in your yard takes on added significance.
Putting up bird feeders in a large open space can make it easier for migrating birds to notice them.
Putting out a variety of feeders at different locations in the backyard to increase the likelihood of spotting birds is an option that might be thought about.
When a tree or hedge is already frequented by birds, utilize a limb rather than installing a bird feeding station that must be pierced in the ground or hung from a bracket.
It’s important to keep bird feeders close to natural cover for two reasons: first, the birds will have a rapid escape route if they’re startled, and second, the birds will be able to take the seeds to a nearby limb and break them apart with their beaks there.
During this time, bird feeders should be placed in plain view, though it’s best to keep them no more than 6 feet from any natural cover in your property.