If you're looking for an easy way to slow down and enjoy the outdoors, adding a bird feeder to your outdoor space is an excellent choice. Whether you have your own trees out in the suburbs or you have a small backyard patio in the city, adding a bird feeder to your space can invite feathered friends to visit for a few minutes each day. Along with the joys of birdsong, taking a few minutes to hang out with birds can deliver benefits to your mental health.
Studies show that spending time around birds and hearing birdsong can lower stress, ease anxiety and even help with depression symptoms. But if your feeder isn't seeing much traffic, the issue might not be the food, but the placement.
After finally getting her dream backyard setup, a wellness writer and longtime birder reached out to Tru Hubbard, urban wildlife education coordinator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. The goal? Maximize bird visits, safely and sustainably.
From picking the right feeder and seed to choosing the safest, most visible place to hang it, Hubbard offers expert tips that'll help you turn your yard or balcony into a birdwatcher's paradise. Whether you're a beginner or a full-on bird nerd, this advice will help you create a safe, active haven for local wildlife and give you a peaceful new daily routine to enjoy.
Where is the best place to put your bird feeder?
Location, location, location -- it's not just a term for real estate agents. Where and how you set up your bird feeder can affect the birds and other wildlife. The main points to consider when picking the best spot for your bird feeder are proper coverage and proximity to trees, distance from windows and height off the ground.
Coverage and proximity to trees
Birds prefer to feed in areas with some coverage, allowing them to quickly escape to nearby trees or bushes if needed. Placing your feeder near trees or shrubbery increases their protection from predators and offers shelter from inclement weather like rain or wind -- but they shouldn't be too close. The standard guideline is to put your feeder between 10 and 15 feet from bushes and trees.
Hanging your feeder in a tree with easily accessible branches isn't advised. "We also want to reduce the ability of other animals to access the food, which is why sometimes hanging them in trees can be an invitation to our smaller mammals. Placing it about 10 feet away from any tree or structure squirrels or raccoons could use to jump off will help stop them from stealing food," said Hubbard.
A bird feeder hung close to branches or structures can be an easy target for squirrels, raccoons and other animals. Raymond Gehman/Getty Images
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