Three Ways to Mount your Bird Feeders There are two parts to every bird feeder setup... the bird feeder itself, and the bird feeder mounting hardware.  Many varieties of bird feeders can be mounted in two or even all three of the feeder mounting methods described below: Pole Mounted Bird Feeders:  wild bird feeders can be attached atop a pole, the length of which is selected to target a certain wild bird species or the feeding habits of a certain variety of wild birds.  Other factors may include the isolation from predators (like cats) and moochers (squirrels and raccoon), or to locate the feeder at a height more convenient for your viewing pleasure (like outside a second-story window).  Remember that you need regular access to the feeder, so you may want to keep it at a reachable height. Adjustable height poles are available, or the pole can be set into a buried pipe so that you can easily raise the pole out of the ground to lower the bird feeder for cleaning and refilling.  Hanging Bird Feeders:  wild bird feeders are often hung at various locations like tree limbs, building eves and on walls with metal hanger brackets.  The elevations can also be varied for the same reasons as noted above. Side Mounted Bird Feeders:   this style of mounting can be used on trees, fences, garden walls and buildings.  But if you use this method, again, be sure to mount your bird feeders in such a way to leave yourself easy access for cleaning and refilling.

Four Main Styles of Bird Feeders There are many styles of bird feeders on the market these days designed to hold many varieties of bird feed, and some are even hybrids of multiple styles (discussed below).  Just to get you started, here are four of the most common types of wild bird feeders: Tray Style Bird Feeders:  tray feeders are the simplest of the bird feeder types, which consist of a shallow tray or bowl that holds the feed, and provides the birds with a rim to perch upon while feeding.  A saucerful of suet sitting on your picnic table would be considered a tray style feeder.  The ones commercially available may include a mounting pole, or a roof to keep the rain off the feed.  Tray feeders are sometimes referred to as platform or bench feeders, and can be vulnerable to the pesky squirrels.  Hopper Style Bird Feeders:  feeders of this type can be made of many different materials, like plastic or metal, but the classic hopper style bird feeders are made of cedar wood.  Hoppers contain a central bin to hold the feed, which is loaded from the top, and gravity dispensed from the bottom as the birds gobble up the feed.  There are usually ledges conveniently located at the base of the hopper for the birds to perch upon while eating.  The size of these ledges is often used to limit the size of the birds that can use the feeder.  The front and back of the bin are usually glass or plexiglass to reveal the bounty of feed inside, which helps to attract the birds, and lets us know when to refill them. Tube Style Bird Feeders:   tube feeders are probably the most recognizable style of wild bird feeder, a clear hanging (or pole mounted) tube with small holes located around the sides, and pegs for perches beneath each hole.  The holes in tube style bird feeders are sized to accommodate the type of feed to be used, which will determine which kinds of birds will be attracted.  The smallest holes are for thistle (sometimes called nyjer), with medium holes for millet, milo or other mixed seeds, and the larger holed varieties are for corn or sunflower seeds.  The pegs are sized proportional to the hole size, thus discouraging larger birds from eating the smaller feed types. Suet Bird Feeders:   suet bird feeders are generally made of wire mesh with openings large enough to allow the wild birds to peck through.  The wire also doubles as a talon-hold for the birds to hang from as they are feeding.  There are lots of suet mix recipes that you can mix up yourself, or you can purchase suet cakes made specifically as bird feed which generally have seed, nuts or berries already mixed in, and come in standard sizes that feeders are designed to accommodate.  Nuisance starlings love suet, but you can deter them by using a suet feeder with openings only on the bottom, which do not pose a problem for woodpeckers and other desirable species.

Specialty and Hybrid Bird Feeders There are also many types of specialty bird feeders available that are made to target very specific wild bird species.  And some feeders combine multiple ways to present the bird feed to attract various species, or to give your little diners some welcomed variety.  Some examples of these would be: Nectar Style Bird Feeders:  while orioles, finches and even woodpeckers will stop to take a drink of sweet nectar, the main target species for nectar (or sugar water) style feeders is obviously the hummingbirds!  These little gems of nature can easily become your passion, and you could wake up one morning to find yourself with a dozen different hummingbird feeders all over your back deck.  Hummingbirds are so special that these little critters have earned their own section on our site, so please visit our hummingbird pages.   Hanging Peanut Feeders:  this style of feeder is usually a tube-shaped cylinder of wire mesh with openings just large enough for the wild birds to pull out the raw peanuts (shelled or still in their shells).  Big fat aggressive blue jays love to tug at whole peanuts in this style of feeder.  Unless you take defensive measures though, expect Mr. Squirrel to take his fair share of the peanuts, too! Natural Material Bird Feeders:  wild bird feeders can be fashioned from naturally ocurring materials in your area, or you can buy feeders that you combine with these materials, like pine cones and tree bark.  Since many species of wild birds like to hide nuts and seeds in bark, you can hang pieces of bark with small holes bored in them that you have stuffed with peanuts, corn kernels, sunflower seeds or suet mixtures.  You can also stuff pine cones (that have already opened up and lost their pine nuts) with suet or peanut butter, and hang them from tree limbs. Fresh Fruits, Jellies and Worms Bird Feeders:  Orioles, cardinals and woodpeckers love oranges.  Mockingbirds are suckers for apples.  Blubirds and Robins love a good meal worm.  There are lots of feeders available to allow you to present these types of yummy food for your wild birds, but be aware that these types of bird feeders take a little extra effort since the food should be fresh daily. Hybrid Bird Feeders:  some commercially available bird feeders combine multiple styles of feed presentation.  You can find tube style bird feeders that have a tray at the base to catch falling uneaten seed.  Many hopper style feeders have wire mesh baskets on both ends to hold suet cakes.  Some hopper style feeders have bins that are actually clear tubes.  And some hanging tube or hopper style feeders can have suet baskets on the bottom to attract the upside-down feeders.  You get the picture!

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