As an avid birder with decades of experience, I’ve made my share of mistakes and learned countless lessons along the way. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, over 47 million Americans consider themselves bird watchers, and most of us have learned these crucial lessons through trial and error.

Here are the most important insights that experience teaches every bird enthusiast.

1. Cheap Bird Feeders Are Expensive in the Long Run

According to the National Bird Feeding Society, investing in quality feeders saves money over time. Inexpensive feeders often crack, leak, or break within a season, while premium feeders can last decades.

Plus, poorly constructed feeders can actually harm birds by exposing food to moisture or creating sharp edges that can cause injury.

2. Squirrels Will Always Find a Way

While squirrel baffles are great, squirrels might be able to find their way over them. Motorized squirrel-proof spinning feeders’ batteries may die or not always perfectly sense the weight on their base.

Squirrels can develop a taste for safflower or get used to the smell of soap. This stuff happens.

Not every product that is advertised as “squirrel-proof” will really do the job of keeping squirrels out of your birdfeed. However, there are definitely strategies for protecting your birds’ food from squirrels.

3. Seed Quality Matters More Than Quantity

Purchase the best quality bird seed. Even if you use one type of seed, such as black oil sunflower, and the birds still toss some out, it could be that the seed is low quality.

When the birds open the shell from low-quality seed, it is often empty, or the seed is immature. This results in the birds scooping out seeds looking for ones filled with nutritional material.

4. Window Strikes Are a Serious Problem

Hanging feeders should be about 5 feet off the ground, which helps to avoid squirrels reaching them. It’s also very important that feeders be positioned either 3 feet or 30 feet from windows to avoid deadly window collisions.

You can reduce the number of birds hitting your windows by taking simple preventative measures like moving interior plants away from your windows, repositioning your feeders, and installing window decals, screens, or two-way film.

5. Disease Spreads Quickly at Feeders

Bird feeders can spread salmonella bacteria and Avian influenza, among other diseases. It is important to protect your home as well as prevent the spread of disease among our feathered friends.

Bird feeders are also a common place where diseases spread, so it’s important to clean your bird feeders regularly. According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, diseases like salmonellosis, trichomoniasis, pigeon paramyxovirus, and avian pox can often be spread at feeders.

6. Cats and Birds Don’t Mix

Cats are the leading human-influenced cause of bird deaths in North America, according to data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which estimates that between 1.4 billion and 3.7 billion birds are killed by cats annually.

The best, safest, and in many municipalities, most lawful method of keeping birds safe from cat attacks is to keep cats indoors and provide a protected outside area for cats to enjoy the outdoors in.

7. Native Plants Trump Feeders

Native oak trees and non-native ginkgo trees provide a salient example: the National Audubon Society references research from famed Entomologist Doug Tallamy that shows native oak trees in North America support over 500 species of caterpillars, whereas ginkgos, an attractive but non-native tree, supports only five. Only once you have considered how to provide natural food sources for birds through native plant selection and habitat creation should you think about adding feeders to provide supplemental food.

8. Water Features Need More Maintenance Than Expected

Make sure to replace the water regularly and wash bird baths often to prevent spreading diseases. The National Audubon Society suggests replacing the water in your bird bath every other day.

The organization suggests a solution of nine parts vinegar to one part water to clean them. Changing the water in your birdbath every few days is a good idea to keep it clean and fresh.

If you live in an area with hard water, you may need to change the water more often to prevent mineral buildup.

9. Feeding Creates Year-Round Responsibility

When we decide to start feeding the birds in our backyard, we are taking on the responsibility of being a safe food source. When it comes to bird feeders, a dirty bird feeder is an unsafe feeder!

If you want to provide sugar water to hummingbirds, you must do so safely! Feeding hummingbirds is a big responsibility, as feeders are susceptible to bacteria and mold growth.

You absolutely must keep the feeder clean!

10. Not All Birds Get Along

European starlings, particularly unpopular and aggressive birds, are also suet fans. If you don’t like to feed the starlings, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology recommends buying a feeder that requires birds to hang upside down.

Birds like woodpeckers and chickadees won’t be affected, but starlings will. House Sparrows are an invasive species, and they cause problems for native birds in many towns, cities, and other habitats.

They are extremely aggressive and territorial and will even kill birds that they perceive to be a threat.

11. Photography Is Harder Than It Looks

If you’re just starting out photographing birds in the wild, don’t get frustrated. It takes time, but with a little practice, you can greatly improve your bird photography and take beautiful photographs.

12. The Hobby Gets Expensive Fast

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that Americans spend over $4 billion annually on bird feeding supplies.

Quality seed, durable feeders, cleaning supplies, and basic equipment like binoculars add up quickly. However, most enthusiasts agree that the joy of supporting local wildlife makes it worth every penny.

Hard lessons at the feeder

Spec	What our writers say
Squirrels	They get over baffles, kill batteries, and learn safflower
Low-quality seed	Empty or immature kernels; birds toss it looking for a real seed
Window distance	3 feet or 30 feet from glass
Other strike fixes	Move houseplants, move feeders, add decals, screens, or two-way film
Diseases at feeders	Salmonella, avian influenza, trichomoniasis, avian pox
Cat deaths	1.4 to 3.7 billion birds a year
Cat fix	Keep cats indoors, with a protected outdoor space
Oak vs ginkgo	Native oaks support 500-plus caterpillar species; ginkgo supports five
Birdbath water	Audubon: replace every other day
Starlings on suet	Use an upside-down feeder woodpeckers can still use

Keep reading

• 11 Things Your Mother Was Right About Feeding Birds
• Forget Bird Feeders: These 20 Plants Are Nature’s Own Bird Buffet
• Why Some Backyards Get All the Good Birds (These 9 Secrets Are the Key)