Tips for a Second Story Feeder (1 Viewer)

[Enthusiast21]

Hello,

We recently set up a second story seed feeder and suet cage from our living room window in our apartment. It's only been up for less than a week, but we have had infrequent visitors of Starlings, House Sparrows, and a Black Capped Chickadee. The feeders are mounted on a two foot long wooden rod, which is anchored into a flag pole bracked outside the window.

My question is, is there anything that we can do to make the feeder more attractive to the birds in our area? Does anyone have any tips for feeding from the second floor? We currently have Wagner's Greatest Variety seed mix, and a high energy suet cake.

I also had a suet basket looped around a branch from the large tree in the front yard, but I am going to stop placing food in that feeder to try to encourage them to feed from the window basket.

Any tips or sucess stories would be appreciated.

 

[delia todd]

Hi again Enthusiast

We call the second storey the first floor over here LOL, so we're talking about the same height for my flat. I have this sort of feeder stuck to the window, beside two tube type feeders with nuts and seeds, which also stick to the glass.

Actually, you're quite lucky to get visitors so quickly - it was weeks before the birds found mine! I wouldn't remove anything as yet, the more you can provide the more birds that can be attracted in and they'll soon find the basket. Just now there'll be a lot of natural food available for them. Maybe it might be an idea to provide something like meal worms that can give the adults a top up in this busy time of feeding the nestlings.

I'm sure other people will have more ideas for you too.

 

[Enthusiast21]

Hi again Enthusiast

We call the second storey the first floor over here LOL, so we're talking about the same height for my flat. I have this sort of feeder stuck to the window, beside two tube type feeders with nuts and seeds, which also stick to the glass.

Actually, you're quite lucky to get visitors so quickly - it was weeks before the birds found mine! I wouldn't remove anything as yet, the more you can provide the more birds that can be attracted in and they'll soon find the basket. Just now there'll be a lot of natural food available for them. Maybe it might be an idea to provide something like meal worms that can give the adults a top up in this busy time of feeding the nestlings.

I'm sure other people will have more ideas for you too.

Thanks for the quick response!

So you think I should continue to feed from the suet basket in the front yard as well? I currently have two baskets, one with the elevated feeder and one in a different location in a tree at the front yard.

I will post a picture of my window set up in a few minutes.

 

[Enthusiast21]

Here's the window set up.

 

[delia todd]

So you think I should continue to feed from the suet basket in the front yard as well? I currently have two baskets, one with the elevated feeder and one in a different location in a tree at the front yard.

It's entirely up to you, of course, but if the birds are using it, it would be nice to leave it in situ for them, as it may attract other birds in, which may then find your window feeder too.

There is no foot traffic under my window (occasional gardener who cuts what passes for grass LOL), so I throw a few seeds and nuts down there and on to a neighbour's shed roof (don't tell 'em please)

I'm not sure what it is, but that white box thingy on your window, would that be suitable for putting a dish of water on (I use a plastic microwave tray with a stone in sometimes) which the odd bird has used for a drink and bath. You need to weigh it down a bit, otherwise a puff of wind and it's gone LOL.

 

[Enthusiast21]

I wish I could, but that is actually an air conditioner that is located in a second room. I wouldn't be able to open the window without having to hold the AC unit from falling.

Do you think there is anything else I should put up at the feeder? Any recommendations for seed mixes?

 

[delia todd]

Oh well... just a thought LOL.

Not sure I can be of much help with regard the seed mixes.... different country, different birds LOL. Sunflower hearts, meal worms and peanut butter seem to be perennial universal favourites though.

 

[Enthusiast21]

So it would be okay to mix mealworms right in with the seed? I am debating attaching another feeder with just sunflower, safflower mix, but I don't want it to become too crowded on the pole.

So far this morning I've had visits from Chickadee's, House Sparrows, and Starlings.

 

[delia todd]

Send me some chickadees, please!! I have their cousin visiting, a cute wee Coal Tit.

I put some meal worms in the tray feeder (which I showed you the other day) along with seeds and nibbles, put some on the little window sill and throw some on the ground.

You just need to keep experimenting really. Some things will work, some won't. Good luck.

 

[Enthusiast21]

So I upgraded my feeders today. I added a hopper feeder with two suet holders on each side, and moved the feeder you saw in the previous picture to the other side of the window. In the new hopper feeder I added Cardinal Mix sunflower safflower seed and mealworms.