Bird feeder works better underneath eave or out in the open?

As a new suburbanite I confront the big issues on a daily basis. Today the question is where to mount a bird feeder. Our ancient Deck House has eaves that stick out about 1.5′ from the house and it is trivial to screw a hook into them and then hang a tube-shaped bird feeder. This means that the bird feeder is fairly well sheltered from the rain (helps keep the seed dry?), close to the window (good for viewing, but maybe scares some birds?), but it is also mostly in the shade. An alternative is to clamp a curved pole to a deck railing and have the tubular feeder 6′ or 8′ away from the windows and exposed to the elements, including sunshine.

What’s more likely to attract birds?

Some data: I tried the under-eave position on the NE side of the house starting yesterday and so far no birds have appeared. I tried a similar feeder on the S side of the house underneath an eave there and a few small songbirds showed up but have now departed (full?).

Separately, I admit with shame that I tried a window-mount bird feeder. I filled it up half way and stuck the suction cups to a window, came back 10 minutes later and found it on the ground below the window.

18 thoughts on “Bird feeder works better underneath eave or out in the open?

  1. From my parent’s experience, under the eaves will supply enough birds for you. One could argue about which location will provide more birds (or squirrels, which you will also get), but you will get enough birds with the eave mounting of the feeders.

    It may take a few weeks to get the birds.

    (Sucktion cups are for suckers.)

  2. Either should work.

    When I had a Deck House in NH I hung a hummingbird feeder off the eave and had a traditional pole-mounted feeder in the yard.

    The one in the yard attracted a lot of birds, squirrels, and one bear (which totally destroyed the feeder and turned the metal pole into a pretzel).

    One thing to watch out for: if your Deck House is like the one I had, the windows are very large with a UV coating which somehow results in a lot of bird strikes.

  3. It normally takes a few weeks for the birds to really figure it out. We tend to find feeders with shelter attract smaller birds, where as ones out in the open can be dominated by bigger more aggressive species.

  4. We used to have a zero lot line house in Dallas and I placed two feeders on the eaves outside the side windows. I could lay on the couch programming and watch birds come and go all day. We’re now up in the wooded hills in downtown Austin, and I place the feeders out in the trees. I could be wrong, but I believe the placement is best where the birds feel safe from predators. The house in Dallas worked off the eaves because the eaves were really deep and the neighbors house was only eight feet away and presented an allusion of cover.

  5. In my experience in MA, the primary consideration in squirrels. If squirrels can get to the feeder, you will always be out of seed.

    The rule of thumb is something like a 10 foot clearance from anything a squirrel can jump from. If you head to Wild Birds Unlimited in Sudbury, they’ll be happy to give you good advice and sell you very overpriced feeder systems.

    It sounds like hanging from the eave would be better than sitting on the deck railing.

    On the other hand, the squirrels can be entertaining in their own right (like when we greased the pole our feeder was hanging from).

  6. John: The location on the S side of the house could be jumped to from the roof or the deck rail by a squirrel. However, if he failed to latch onto the feeder he would suffer a 1.5 story drop to the ground. Is that prospect not frightening to a squirrel or can they simply bounce after falling 15′?

  7. Our bird feeder is on a tall pole in the middle of our yard. It’s covered in stove pipe to keep the squirrels and raccoons from getting up there. It looks like a giant T. You hang the feeders off the ends of the T.

    If its close to your house, you’re gonna have bird poop to clean up. Also if there’s any wood around your window frames the squirrels might to chew on it once they discover it’s there. (I’m assuming you have squirrels). Once the birds found our feeder they built nests in the surrounding trees and you can tell they’re the regular customers. Depending on the time of year we get flocks of bluejays, we have a family of cardinals, tons of sparrows, woodpeckers, pigeons & doves (who are greeted by a shot from the hose. We don’t like them sucking up all the seed and leaving none for the little birds) and in the summer we have 2 hummingbirds. I’m willing to bet they’re the same 2 birds year after year who come to my feeder when they’ve migrated back to Canada. I mean, who in Toronto has a hummingbird feeder? I’m sure there are no others in my neighbourhood. And they put up with me when I’m camped out next to the feeder taking photos. They fly right to my face and make little noises. They’re either telling me off, or telling me to get their good side!

    I’ll email you photos so you can see what I’m talking about.

  8. Alisa: As far as the bird poop goes, I’ve found locations that are over bushes or grass rather than pavement so I think I might be able to escape cleanup.

  9. Philip: Jumping down 15′ is nothing for most types of squirrels. They tend to “parachute” down creating a good amount of air drag. They don’t have to be “flying squirrels” either. Most squirrels have the ability to jump down a fair distance with little harm done to them.

  10. I would say that squirrels and bird strikes on windows should be two important (primary?) considerations. Squirrels may be impossible to stop in any location, and entire books have been written with different tactics for keeping them out of feeders. Only experimentation will tell whether your pole attachment method will actually deter them. Bird strikes are unsettling, and if they happen while you are out you are likely to be alerted to them when your dog either eats the dead bird it found, or brings it to you. There are little window decals that are made to alert birds to windows, but they are aesthetically intrusive.

  11. “As far as the bird poop goes, I’ve found locations that are over bushes or grass rather than pavement so I think I might be able to escape cleanup.”

    Bird poop isn’t going to be your main concern. Birds aren’t the neatest of eaters and much of the seed gets knocked to the ground. This makes the food available to other critters like mice. Unless are interested in this kind of wildlife too, you might want to be able to clean up the dropped seeds.

    1.5 stories might keep the squirrel activity down (it might not eliminate the charming buggers).

  12. 1. Take a coat hanger
    2. Cut an appropriate length to hang bird feeder on
    3. bend ends to make two hooks
    4. hang off of eave, to side of window so that feeder can still be viewed, but the birds see wall straight behind it.

    The squirrels will be unable to get at it due to the very thin wire and there should be lots of finches, etc.

  13. I agree with the previous poster regarding misadventures with plate glass windows. Be careful with near window installation as bird strikes will surely happen. Just ask retired Capt Sully!
    You never mentioned the type of bird you want to attract. Finch enjoy a particular feed called Niger seed (thistle) which is usually presented in a narrow tube with small apertures and they seem to enjoy dining upside down. Get one with metal surrounds. If you are looking for a general aves attractant then I would stick with feeders which hold off the tree rats a bit better. I do enjoy watching squirrels solve problems and they are MUCH smarter than those dopey, poopy, birds .

    Perhaps more fun than teaching a border collie to run agility poles ( “as God is my witness” I am eagerly awaiting dog vids) without the aerobic work of the owner.
    Shelties just as good in the poles and better with kids!

    Personal experience with the following analogue feeders have revealed true tree rodent resiliency

    http://www.amazon.com/Heritage-Farms-Absolute-Squirrel-Feeder/dp/B000667W4A/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&s=garden&qid=1267748866&sr=1-23
    plus others which close feeding apertures under the relatively heavy wt of a squirrel.

    In general, if you want to bring birds closer to the house start with a feeder many meters away and slowly move it closer. Even starting next to the house will just slow the response to food. Most birds are VERY aware of what their peers are eating and will quickly follow the first bird to a feeder. Typical birds are somewhat farsighted so they will be looking into your home and aware of any alarming movement.

    My favorite feeder is a classic tube type with a closure which drops down over each aperture when bird+ wt is on the springs holding closure. Here is a link to the exact feeder I have (I bought local)
    http://www.birdfeeders.com/store/wild-bird-feeders/bb336

    Cheap feeders are quickly eaten by wildlife. Just remember a rat can chew through thin plate steel given enough time and a squirrel is also a rodent!

  14. Does the feeder increase the bird strikes? We already have the occasional bird strike. I would think the feeder might reduce bird strikes since it gives the birds a destination short of the window.

  15. “Does the feeder increase the bird strikes?”

    Imagine ATL with dozens of “birds” with Bingo fuel in the pattern. Suddenly ATC computers/radar go down and there isn’t even an 8 year old kid to pick up the slack and direct traffic. As VFR aircraft dive for any open runway, Stealth Fighters (birds of prey) pick off the occasional straggler while everyone breaks right or left to escape.

    So yes a feeder will cause more bird strikes…

    (sorry couldn’t resist the rare opportunity to combine my aviation and biology knowledge)

  16. I have placed a vertifcal cylindar with a perch around the bottom type feeder unter a 1-1/2 eave with a gutter on the outside facia, about 8 feet from the ground, in front of a small bathroom window with a screen on the bottom pane of glass. Does this sound viable, and how long should I leave the feeder there to see if it attracts birds. I have seen no activity in three days.
    I alsohave a location under an eave about 15 feet above the ground if that is better.
    I have trees and bushes within 15 feet for them to “stage” to check out the feeder and watch for predators, but no trees immediately next to either location. Hopefully this presents a safe environment where cats and squirrels can not hide.
    I am using the relatively new Scotts song bird feed. Is there anything I can do to attract the first visitors, and once a few come, do more follow.
    I am new to this effort.
    I have VERY active squirrels, and am trying to keep them from getting to the feed. I tried the lever action “squirrel proof” box type feeder, it took the squirrels about 50 attempts where they fell off of the sloped top and the lever type perch and 1-1/2 hours before they firuted it out.

  17. n general, if you want to bring birds closer to the house start with a feeder many meters away and slowly move it closer. Even starting next to the house will just slow the response to food. Most birds are VERY aware of what their peers are eating and will quickly follow the first bird to a feeder. Typical birds are somewhat farsighted so they will be looking into your home and aware of any alarming movement.

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