The UK is home to a diverse range of bird species, and attracting them to your garden can be a delightful hobby. With the right feeders, seeds, and placement, you can create a haven for birds in your garden. Here’s how to attract birds to your feeder.
Choose the Right Feeder
Different bird species prefer different types of feeders based on the type of beak they have and which food they prefer. Consider the following options:
- Tube feeders: These are ideal for small seeds like nyjer or sunflower hearts, and are popular with finches and tits.
- Mesh feeders: These are great for larger seeds like sunflower seeds or peanuts as well as suet pellets or balls, and are often visited by house sparrows and starlings.
- Suet cage feeders: These are designed for high-energy suet blocks, which are perfect for woodpeckers, nuthatches, and blue tits.
- Ground feeders: These can be placed near the bird feeding station and attract ground feeders such as blackbirds, dunnocks & robins.
Select the Perfect Bird Food
Birds love a variety of seeds, including:
- Sunflower Hearts: These are a favourite among goldfinches, greenfinches, siskins and sparrows.
- Suet: A high-energy food made from animal fat, suet is perfect for starlings and house sparrows.
- Nyjer seed: This tiny seed is a hit with goldfinches.
- Black Sunflower Seeds: Coal tits especially like these.
- Peanuts: Woodpeckers, blue & great tits are all partial to a peanut or two.
Position Your Feeder
The location of your feeder can greatly impact the number of birds that visit. Consider the following:
- Place feeders near trees or shrubs: This provides birds with a safe place to perch.
- Avoid placing feeders near windows: Birds can collide with windows, especially if they’re flying quickly or distracted by the feeder.
- Keep feeders safe from predators: Consider using squirrel-proof feeders or placing feeders out of reach of cats and other predators.
Some Popular Bird Species to Attract
- Blue Tits & Great Tits: These birds love suet and sunflower hearts.
- Coal Tits: One of my favourite birds, I put black sunflower seeds out just for them.
- Goldfinches, Greenfinches & Siskins: These colourful birds are love nyjer seed and sunflower hearts.
- Robins: These charming birds love mealworms and suet.
- House Sparrows: These birds love suet and sunflower hearts.
- Starlings: Hordes of these chaotic characters will eat as many suet pellets as you can put out.
- Wrens & Dunnocks: These ground feeders will thank you for some mealworms.
- Wood Pigeons & Collared Doves: These birds both enjoy sunflower hearts.
- Blackbirds: Will enjoy sunflower hearts from a ground feeder and pieces of fruit, such as apples or berries.
Tips for Bird Feeders
- Provide a source of water: Birds need water for drinking and bathing, so consider adding a birdbath or shallow dish to your garden.
- Keep your feeder clean: Regularly clean your feeder to prevent the spread of disease and keep the seed fresh.
- Be patient: It will take some time to attract birds to your feeder, so don’t get discouraged when you don’t see results right away. They will find the feeders.
By following these tips, you can create a bird-friendly haven in your garden and enjoy the beauty and wonder of these fascinating creatures.
I stream the bird feeding station in my garden to my Bird Watching UK YouTube channel, feel free to check out my Live Bird Feeder Cam.