Where to hang this bird feeder?

eimsmce0304

Hi I was given a lovely birdhouse as a gift (similar shape to one attached), but not sure where is safest to hang it. Our wall is quite high but we do get the neighbours' cats walking along it. Due to the shape it's also quite tricky to hang without it swinging in the wind. Any ideas?

Buttercupdays

It looks more like a bird house than a bird feeder.

Bird feeders usually have multiple access holes, with some at the bottom so all the seed can drop down and be easily reached.

I think that the best thing that you could do with it for now is to put it away somewhere safe until you have had time to do some work on your garden

Most garden birds don't choose to nest in exposed places, they like cover so that they can feel safe from predators (often other birds!) and can access their nests unobtrusively.

They prefer shelter from wind and rain, but also too much sun. That metal lid could fry eggs or nestlings if poorly sited!

They need to be able to find nesting materials in the neighbourhood.

They need an available food source for their young, which for many is grubs and insects, not birdseed, and places for them to shelter safely while their flying skills are limited.

They usually dilslike disturbance or a lot of nearby human activity.

My garden is rural, large and  fairly wild. I am out there a lot and I feed the birds daily. Most of the regulars recognise me and trust me to varying extents. There is a wide choice of nest sites, and many nests every year.

Apart from the crows, who nest right at the top of the tallest fir tree, in the teeth of the westerly gales, they all look for comfort.

Favourite places are the ivy that covers the front of the house, twiggy shrubs and leafy evergreens (like conifers & rhododendrons) and some are happy to go indoors. Robins and wrens chose this option  in 2020 and swallows do so every year. These birds tolerated our carefully unobtrusive presence on a daily basis.

You need to get planting: trees, shrubs,climbers, pollinators to attract insects, plants for the slugs and bugs to eat, but first improve your soil for worms.

Once you've made a start you can put up a proper bird feeder and let the birds know you are open for business

eimsmce0304

Thank you for your responses! Ah yes I realised I wrote bird feeder by accident in the discussion title! It is a birdhouse with a wooden roof

Yeah I did wonder if it might be too exposed for a nesting site - it doesn't look too inviting to me lol! I've bought a climbing rose for the wall so maybe it would be nice in there once established Lots of planting to do indeed, but we do have lots of birds visiting each day especially blackbirds and starlings looking for worms, and several tits, sparrows and robins come to the bird feeder. We have  lots of mature trees in our street and a stream running around it, and an agricultural field about 20m away so hopefully they'll feel comfortable once I get some established plants