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My First Feeder (1 Viewer)

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birds4phil

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I've just got my first feeder out in my backyard, I love it! It's only been 3 days and during a harsh winter storm (single digit temperatures and 10 inches of snow). I have only seen a couple of Junco's picking up seeds underneath it so far. I must be patient :) I've read a number of times that having your feeder close to trees (10-20 feet) is ideal, but my issue is that I have no big trees in my backyard. Right now, I have Black Oil Sunflower Seed, a thistle feeder for finches, peanuts, and a suet cage. I have already bought a 2nd pole to separate the Thistle and the Suet away from the main feeder.

I know it can take weeks for birds to find a new feeder, maybe I'm just being impatient, but could my feeder be in a poor position for birds to find it? My neighbors have a couple of bigger trees, I have a trellace with some vines, a few bushes, and 2 smaller/baby trees. Right now, the pole is located near the deck for viewing from inside.
 
I think your local birds are just stuck somewhere inside a secluded yard and do not want to venture out until the blizzard stops. I think they will be out and about once there is sunshine on the snow.
 
Hi ya Phil and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum :t:

Stay patient. The fact that you've got Juncos on the ground will not be missed by other birds. 9 our of 10 times it is always the Chickadees that hit a new feeder I've put up.

If no large trees, then perhaps put the feeders near bushes? Just somewhere, where hopefully, they can hide quickly when a BOP is around. Do keep us posted please ;)
 
Hi Phil

Yes, as others have said, you really need to be patient (in a year or two you'll be complaining they're eating you out of house and home LOL). It took many weeks for the birds to find my window feeders, now I get several species visit.


Sprinkling a little food on the ground seems to be attracting your Juncos, so I'm really sure it won't be long till other birds notice this and come to investigate.
 
I haven't put it out yet, temperatures today are supposed to be negative 12 F, with windchill getting to negative 35 F! Thursday of this week is supposed to be a low of 25, I think I'll try it then. As I type this, day 4, I just saw my first Black-Capped Chickadee! :) Landed on the pole, then the feeder, stuck it's head in the port, then flew away. Just checking things out I think. Junco's are here again this morning, too, after I sprinkled more Sunflower seeds in the snow.
 
With a yard list of 107 species and 9 feeders and 3 suet feeders, I can confirm that it is very addicting and expensive ;)
 
birds4phil said:
[...] As I type this, day 4, I just saw my first Black-Capped Chickadee! :) Landed on the pole, then the feeder, stuck it's head in the port, then flew away. Just checking things out I think.
Click to expand...
Congrats to your first sight of the Black - capped Chickadee! I doubt that the bird was only checking out the feeder, tits often take a sunflower seed and seeking shelter in brushes where the feel safer.
birds4phil said:
Junco's are here again this morning, too, after I sprinkled more Sunflower seeds in the snow.
Click to expand...
One snowfall and your food is covered wasting. I would rather put them in a ground feeder like this (but without legs) than sprinkle it in the snow. http://www.duncraft.com/common/images/products/large/2106_zoom.jpg
Jm2c
 
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