Everything You Need To Know About Bird Feeders

Want to host a backyard feast for birds? Here’s everything you need to know about bird feeders and how to maintain them.

Where to hang a bird feeder

Perhaps counterintuitively, Kerrie Wilcox, the Canadian lead of Birds Canada’s Project FeederWatch, recommends finding a spot a metre or less away from windows (so birds don’t have enough momentum to hit them at high speed when leaving the feeder) and at least 3 metres away from trees (to keep squirrels away).

What seeds to use in a bird feeder

Many store-bought mixes draw a wide variety of different species, but the more types of food you have available, the more birds you’ll attract. That said, Wilcox swears by black oil sunflower seeds, which are a good source of energy and easy to crack for many types of birds.

Also consider adding some native plants to your yard. “Nothing provides a more dependable food supply throughout the year than native vegetation,” she explains.

How to clean a bird feeder

To avoid the spread of disease, frequent cleanings are essential. Bird feeders should be emptied and cleaned every two weeks.

To clean your feeder, wear gloves and scrub it in hot, soapy water. Then rake and dispose of any hulls, discarded seeds and other debris under the feeder, as it can sicken birds and attract other animals.

The best bird feeders to shop for 2024

Pidät Silo Bird Feeder, $100

Made from easy-to-clean recycled plastic, this stylish geometric feeder keeps seeds dry.

Umbra Bird Cafe Feeder, $40

This modern design has a wrap-around tray that gives birds plenty of space to perch and rest. This type of small hopper feeder prevents larger birds, like grackles, from monopolizing the food source.

Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder, $321

Equipped with a camera, this high-tech feeder sends a video of each bird visit straight to your phone. It's a small hopper feeder that will attract a large variety of birds, including chickadees, nuthatches and finches.

Mekkapro Nectar Hummingbird Feeder, $25

Fill this nectar feeder with sugar water to attract hummingbirds. The recipe recommended is one part white sugar to four parts water.

Nectar feeders should be emptied, cleaned and refilled every three days.

Birds Choice Recycled Plastic Suet Feeder, $105

This suet feeder’s tail prop mimics a tree trunk to give birds more stability. It’s ideal for woodpeckers.

Sheridan Nurseries Regal Style Squirrel Resistant Cage Feeder, $55

This small tube feeder features a squirrel-proof cage to protect the seeds.

Love birds? Here are more ways to help them

• Keep birds from hitting your windows
• Drink Bird Friendly coffee
• Garden with native plants
• Get into birding
• Keep cats indoors: Researchers estimate that cats kill between 100 and 350 million birds every year in Canada
• Stop raking up all those leaves in the fall