How to attract the birds?

Question

How do I get the birds to come to my bird feeder?

Answer 1

There are two things you need to do: Provide food they like better than they can easily find elsewhere, and put it in a place they will feel safe when eating it. Birds like to land nearby and look the place over before they come in to eat, so I put my feeders a dozen or so feet from a tree or other perch so they can check for cats or other dangers, or wait for their turn at the feeder if it's crowded.

To find what food they like, you'll need to know what type of birds are in your area. Your best bet is to go to a local store that sells quality bird food and feeders like maybe some garden stores. Normally the people there are experts on the subject and very willing to answer questions like you will have. Don't bother asking at major "Marts", because they sell crappy food that attracts less desirable birds that run off the other birds and the people working there don't normally have a clue about anything but what shelf it belongs on in the store... if that.

Answer 2

Toss a nice amount of wild bird seed all over the ground and provide a soft area of bedding made with wood shavings and hay-like grass... Besides the birds coming to eat... they can come for nesting material, too. They'll get the nesting material, leave... and come back for the food. :-)

Other than that, tie some strong string to a few pine cones. Dab some peanut butter (the creamy kind... somehow I think the chunky kind isn't good for the birds) all over the pine cones. Then, sprinkle some bird seeds on them. Hang them near the feeder... but not too close. A good distance is like around 5 or 6 feet away.

Next up... go to a local home-improvement store such as Home Depot, Lowes, Home Improvement, OSH, etc. and check out some of the bird-baths that they have there. There are plastic ones that go for about $10 - $30. They work ok... if you're on a budget and don't want to get the $500 bird fountains. :-p While you're there... get a hose-head which has a fine mist setting.

Go back home and fix it onto the hose and hang it near the bird bath. Turn on the hose and leave it on a mist. The birds will come by and cool down near the area. This is totally proven... birds LOVE mist. Make sure the water isn't cold as hell... or that it isn't practically boiling, too. It should be either slightly cool or slightly warm. :-)

And the pièce-de-resistance... call up a local chemistry supply-store or something similar and ask them if they have any bird pheromones. They might get to be expensive... but if you feel up for it... buy some and put them a few drops near the feeder, bath, mist, and ground area nearby. Don't put the pheromones too close to the nesting material, as it will discourage birds from using the material... because they'll think that it's claimed.

When buying pheromones, be careful not to put it where birds can get hurt, such as areas with toxic fumes, live electricity, etc. Also, when buying pheromones, make sure to buy the pheromones of birds that live in your area. Be sure to remember that when buying pheromones, buy both the male and female pheromones so you'll attract every possible kind of bird.

The pheromones are supposed to last you a long, long time. You should only add a few droplets here and there- nothing more than that... Put one drop of male pheromones and a drop of female pheromones about 6 inches away and it will create an alluring scent for both sexes of birds. Don't splurge around too many pheromones or you'll end up with a swarm of antsy birds around your yard.

If you exercise enough caution with everything, you'll end up with an awesome bird sanctuary in your yard. :-D

Answer 3

Time. I moved from outside vegas to Tennesee. There were no birds in our yard the first summer. I put out a feeder and nothing. The next summer, the started to come around. This is the third summer and I cannot believe how many birds there are! I just spread seed all over the yard and also in the feeder. They will come... try tossing it in your yard, they might notice it then....

Answer 4

There are many ways im sure but what worked for me was going to publix and buying a simple bag of birdseeds (2.00) and threw it around the yard, and because bird fountains are high priced i got a used cake holder turned it over and put water in the bottom and food around the tray. I have bluebirds, cardinals, and others now even quakers. just great!
and they even laid eggs!

Answer 5

Different birds are attracted to different foods. Find out what birds are in your area & that you would like to attract & then look it up on-line to find out what foods they are partial too.

Answer 6

Turn on the hose. They love to shower on a hot day. And they'll want to dig in the mud for worms!

Answer 7

wear a bikini decorated with birdseeds