You don’t need a garden to enjoy wildlife at your home. Many birds will happily use feeders on balconies, as long as they are easily discovered. Struggling to attract them? Here are a few tricks for getting birds to locate your feeder more quickly.
1. Get to know the species in your area.
First things first, you need to learn which species of birds you’re trying to attract. This guide produced by the Audubon Society is a great place to start. Beyond this, just start observing! You’ll quickly learn who’s prone to show up and who isn’t.
2. Set up a variety of feeders of different sizes.
Now is the time to “cover your bases,” so to speak. Put up small feeders of varying sizes and types (hummingbird feeders, seed feeders, etc.) and add seeds that will taste especially delicious to your local birds. Birdseed mixes, shelled nuts, thistle seed and black-oil sunflower seeds are all yummy choices. Balls of suet on a string, peanut butter, cracked corn and apple pieces are also classic favorites.
3. Create a special habitat.
Would you want to eat your dinner on a concrete slab? I think not. Create a quiet, lush habitat for your local species, using potted and hanging plants, a small herb garden, and possibly even a bird bath or trickling fountain. Warblers and flycatchers are likely to stop off for a fresh drink on their migration routes.
4. Keep your feeders stocked and clean.
Don’t let the food disappear! Once birds make the discovery, they’ll keep coming back for more. And before you know it, you’ll need to restock. You may also want to change things up a few months down the line. Could you add a new feeder? Replace small feeders with bigger ones? Play with it.
It’s also very important to regularly clean your bird feeder to prevent the spread of disease.
5. Play a little bird music.
Still no luck? Try setting up a portable speaker on your balcony and play the songs of birds you know live in your area (in the early morning especially). This will signal to local species that others like them are hanging around your balcony and that it’s a good place to be.
Good luck!
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