No birds in a bird feeder

I bought a bird feeder before Christmas, attached it and filled with deshelled sunflower and hemp seeds, but still not a single bird tried to use it. Granted, it's near my cat's tree, but I know some people add bird feeders to their windows for the sole purpose of entertaining their cats, so it shouldn't be a dealbreaker, should it? The window is on the 3rd floor, I live in temperate climate so it's winter right now, the expected birds are mostly ti ts and sparrows. Any ideas why there's no takers?

 

In the winter birds don't explore as much. They sorta of have a route of feed spots they go to daily.
Give them time and they should realize eventually.

 

In the winter birds don't explore as much. They sorta of have a route of feed spots they go to daily.
Give them time and they should realize eventually.

Huh, I would have guessed the opposite - that natural food sources being sparse would make them explore more...

 

My mom got a feeder for Christmas years ago. We set it up right away, but barely had birds until spring. The next winter was a pretty steady flow of traffic as they knew it was there by then.

 

It might take time for someone to notice it. Maybe the window reflection is confusing them in some way?? Have you tried a window on a different side of the building? Most birds prefer a feeder with nearby safety, like a tree they can escape into. If it's on the 3rd story with nothing around help them feel secure, they will be less inclined to visit. Kinda like fish in an aquarium.

Birds will forage all winter and don't need people to feed them (though they don't mind when you do).

Nuthatches and woodpeckers (and others) love the sunflower hearts because can't open seeds with shells.

 

It might take time for someone to notice it. Maybe the window reflection is confusing them in some way?? Have you tried a window on a different side of the building? Most birds prefer a feeder with nearby safety, like a tree they can escape into. If it's on the 3rd story with nothing around help them feel secure, they will be less inclined to visit. Kinda like fish in an aquarium.

All my apartment is south-facing, no windows in a different direction. There's a prune tree below the window - you kind of see it in the photos - and there's quite a lot of bird activity in it.

My mom got a feeder for Chriatmas years ago. We set it up right away, but barely had birds until spring. The next winter was a pretty steady flow of traffic as they knew it was there by then.

Let's hope it will be like that. I'm kind of used to my parents hanging diy bird feeders wherever and whenever, and birds finding them within days. But they live in a village, maybe things work differently there than in the city.

 

All my apartment is south-facing, no windows in a different direction. There's a prune tree below the window - you kind of see it in the photos - and there's quite a lot of bird activity in it.

Let's hope it will be like that. I'm kind of used to my parents hanging diy bird feeders wherever and whenever, and birds finding them within days. But they live in a village, maybe things work differently there than in the city.

I plan on putting up a couple of bird feeders in spring/early summer myself.

 

My wife has a 'few' bird feeders out.
The birds and squirrels really have a schedule..
Sometimes there is not one and other times it is a full house.

 

Personally I think it is cause it is quite out in the open. Birds of prey are searching for food as well.

Even in a garden the placement of a birdfeeder is quite important.

Hoping some guys will show up, cause it is sooooo nice to watch.

 

It could take some time for them to notice it since its high up a lot of bird's search for food on ground area's. Also, they could be eating in different places and used to going there for food. Sooner or later, they should find it, then you'll have birds coming daily. I feed them in my backyard when i get up and there all there waiting for me at the same time.

 

It looks like a plastic or glass bowl that the birds enter to access the seed? Is that right? That could be quite intimidating for a bird to use for the first time, as opposed to an open dish. It might help to have a stick/perch next to it so that birds could land near it, inspect it and become familiar with it before landing on it.

 

It looks like a plastic or glass bowl that the birds enter to access the seed? Is that right? That could be quite intimidating for a bird to use for the first time, as opposed to an open dish. It might help to have a stick/perch next to it so that birds could land near it, inspect it and become familiar with it before landing on it.

It has a little built in perch on it.

 

You could try sticking a piece of cardboard or something to the top to make a little roof and provide some cover. I've noticed that totally clear/glass window feeders sometimes attract less birds; my theory is that they feel exposed or bothered by the shiny window. I had a acrylic box window feeder in the past, and the birds definitely preferred the old disgusting DIY coffee can window feeder next to it.

 

Sometimes it takes birds awhile to use window bird feeders. I put mine out in August and didn't get birds till mid September. That was years ago and I have a constant stream of visitors now. My bird feeder is the spot in the neighborhood for birds. I suspect that part of the wait might be the birds getting comfortable eating food that has traces of your specific scent on it. You're a predator to them, after all. If you have cats they also can see predators moving around nearby, so of course they'll be hesitant and will take a bit longer to dare taking food from a place where they can both smell and see predators lurking. Since my cats were literally pouncing at the birds I ended up putting a one-way window film on the inside of the window, and that plus some patience on my part ended up working out. I also think that even once the birds are used to my scent, they aren't necessarily used to other people's. One time my Dad came over and patted my bird seed and my birds stopped eating there for a week.

 

1. Be patient, the birds will show up.

2. Post photos here when they do!