Before the vibrant colors, I usually notice the first notes. It sounds like a soft and dreamy robin that has been singing. It is a song that floats and glides through the breeze of the new spring leaves. When I finally see the artist, the thick pale bill and the dazzling rosy-red chest give him away easily. The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak has returned for the season. For many, seeing stunning migrants in the trees is a thrill. Back yard birders commonly express frustration at the beautiful visitors, and migratory song birds, and how they never seem to come down to the feeders. If they know in the neighborhood and are ignoring your yard a single placement habit may be at fault.

The Wide-Open Space Mistake

The most common error is putting bird feeders on a wide, open, lawn. As a matter of course, we position our feeding stations where we most easily observe them from our kitchen windows or our patio chair position. Although a feeder mounted on a tall pole looks neat at the center of the lawn, it makes visiting birds feel vulnerable. Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks are birds of the forest edge and canopy. They use foliage to conceal themselves from predators, such as hawks. They need what birders call staging cover before they go for a meal. Staging cover is a leafy area that allows them to perch, look around and ensure the area is safe. If your feeder is sitting in a wide open area, Grosbeaks will remain in the safety of the high branches.

How to Fix Your Feeder Placement

We must connect the treetops with the seed in order to lure them down. The aim is to relocate your feeding station to be in closer proximity to a natural shelter.

1. Find the Right Distance

Place your feeder 10 to 12 feet away from a fully grown shrub, thicket, or lower branches of a tree. This distance provides the birds an escape route in case of a predator bird, but also is far enough to keep outdoor cats from using the bush as an ambush point.

2. Adjust the Height

Grosbeaks like to feed a little further off the ground than sparrows and juncos that feed closer to the ground. By hanging feeder five to six feet off the ground, you can replicate the mid-level branches that grosbeaks would typically explore. This can be done easily on a shepherd’s hook or a thick tree branch.

Feeder and Seed Essentials

No matter how much care you put into perfect placement, the hardware is important. These are big, heavy birds that struggle to balance on little tiny pegs that are made for finch or chickadee sized birds. Instead of having little tube feeders, you should consider replacing one with one spacious hopper feeder or a wide platform tray. Load your tray feeder with their favorite goodies! The black oil sunflower seeds and safflower seeds will be irresistible to them. The broad perches of a tray feeder give them plenty of room to settle in and crack open the tough shells with their hefty bills. Every bird that comes through during spring migration is a sight to behold! There are simple things you can do to attract birds to your feeders. Adjustments to your yard can attract the birds to sing in the trees near you. Grab your binoculars and birding can be a fun activity!