How to Landscape With Bird Feeders

Plant your yard with plants that will attract birds and provide shelter for them. Plant black-eyed Susans and sunflowers to provide seeds that many birds enjoy snacking on. Plant thistle and cinnamon fern to provide birds with soft materials to use for nest building. Evergreen trees provide birds with places for shelter. Sap and pinecones also provide food sources for birds.

Purchase a variety of bird feeders, including hopper feeders, tube feeders and hummingbird feeders. Various feeders will attract a different variety of birds to the yard. Hopper feeders are usually covered trays that attract larger birds like blue jays, red winged black birds and cardinals. Tube feeders attract smaller birds and songbirds such as chickadees, nuthatches and a variety of finches. Hummingbirds eat nectar and won't feed from seed feeders. Purchase hummingbird feeders to attract them.

Survey the yard for adequate places to hang bird feeders. The best place to locate feeders is in quiet areas, about 10 feet from planted areas. Dig small holes to secure hanger poles in the ground. Hang the feeders from the hooks. Be sure to space feeders several feet apart. Hang them in areas visible from the house or deck to allow for easy bird-watching.

Fill bird feeders with safflower feed or njer seeds. These feeds do not attract aggressive bird species like grackles. Fill hummingbird feeders with hummingbird nectar or sugar water. Keep an eye on bird feeders and refill seed as necessary.

Attach bird feeder cages to tube feeders to help discourage squirrels and aggressive birds. Wax bird feeder poles with car wax to make it difficult for predators to climb the poles.