Feeding Backyard Birds, Tips and Tricks

Attracting birds to your yard is an easy way to get started with birdwatching from the comfort of your home. All you need is a feeder and some bird seed and you can be well on your way to hosting countless species.

We get a lot of questions about how to feed birds at home and what kinds of bird feeding mistakes to avoid so we put together this guide to help you.

Quick backyard bird feeding tips:

• Start with a small amount of seed and let birds find the feeder before filling it up.
• Keep feeders within 3 feet of windows or more than 30 feet away to prevent window strikes.
• Clean feeders regularly, a dirty feeder can spread disease through your local bird population.
• Bring feeders in overnight if rats are a problem.
• Add a birdbath to attract birds that don’t visit feeders.
• Native plants do what feeders can’t: they provide food, shelter, and habitat year-round.

A Little Goes a Long Way

Attracting birds to your yard doesn’t require a lot of work. A clean feeder, the right seed for the species you’re hoping to see, and a spot that keeps them safe from windows and predators goes a long way. Add a birdbath and a few native plants and you’ve created something that genuinely supports the wildlife around you, not just in your yard but in the broader neighborhood ecosystem we all share.

If you’re looking to take feeding backyard birds a step further and create a natural backyard habitat, you can learn more about the Backyard Habitat Certification Program offered in partnership with Bird Alliance of Oregon and the Columbia Land Trust.

For more information on this or other bird topics, visit www.birdallianceoregon.org .