My brother said my bird feeder setup was basically a fast food joint

We were sitting on my patio last week in Austin, and he pointed at my big tube feeder full of sunflower seeds. He said, 'You're just serving them junk food, you know. It's like only giving a kid fries.' I mean, I always thought more seed was better. But then he asked if I'd ever seen a chickadee or a titmouse try to eat from the suet cage I have hanging nearby. I realized I hadn't, because the bigger birds hog the seeds and scare them off. Has anyone tried moving different feeders farther apart to help the little guys get a turn?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_emery6h ago

The Travis Audubon folks say spacing feeders by at least ten feet really helps the smaller birds feel safe.

noah_walker165h ago

Ever think about what happens when you add water or cover? I put a small birdbath and a brush pile about fifteen feet from my main feeder. The chickadees and finches love it. They grab a seed and dart right back to that safe spot to eat. It's like giving them a quick escape route instead of just open space.