Black-capped Chickadee: courtesy of Aspen Song

Northern Cardinal: courtesy of Aspen Song

Location. Location. Location. Hang your feeder in the quiet place near trees and shrubs that provide protective cover. Cats are cute, but not to birds, so don’t hang your feeder too close to the ground. On the other hand, don’t hang the feeder 15 feet high or higher - birds natural feeding habits are about eye-level (5-8 feet) similar to a shrub height or small tree height. Finally, don’t place the feeder too close to windows – birds can easily be scared away by your indoor movements.

Avoid cheap seed mixes. They’re inexpensive because they’re packed with a high percentage of millet, cracked corn, and other fillers that native songbirds do not like. Worse yet, cheap seed attracts those infuriating invasive sparrows that overwhelm your feeding area. Millet also attracts large nuisance birds like blackbirds, grackles and starlings.

Dirty feeders can still make birds sick. Empty your feeder and wash the inside in a light (9:1) water-bleach solution. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry. Remember to do it every month or so. If you have NEVER done this, do it today. Also keep in mind that seed, like any other food, goes bad. Last year’s seed is probably not healthy. If your seed is full of cobwebs, flour moths have invaded it. Yuck!

Go easy on the stale bread. Birds may seem to love it, but bread to a hungry bird is like popcorn is to a hungry human: Loads of filler, but no nutritional value. Bread also attracts mostly starlings...