Simple Tips For Keeping Unwanted Birds Away From Your Hummingbird Feeder

So, you've put your hummingbird feeder in your yard. However, rather than attracting hummingbirds, all it seems to be bringing in is flurries of unwanted birds. 

If this sounds familiar, then you may want to think about incorporating some tactics to ward them off — such as avoiding feeders with a place for birds to land, and making sure there's plenty of distance between any that you have. You could also try removing regular feeders to ward off any from entering the area, and thus, leave your feeders in peace.

Done correctly, these methods will allow you to enjoy all the benefits of having a hummingbird feeder in your garden without having to go to any drastic measures to combat the other birds. Thankfully, none of these tactics are too difficult to execute in your garden, and they are fairly cheap too, so you shouldn't have to worry about spending a fortune. So, what should you be keeping in mind to foster a friendlier environment for hummingbirds? Here's how you can get started.  

When it comes to eliminating unwanted birds, a great place to start is by considering the design of your hummingbird feeders. Essentially, you should be giving them nowhere to land. For this reason, you should avoid those with platforms or rails, as this can encourage an assortment of feathered friends to come to them. Axing this feature means that any birds that aren't hummingbirds will find it challenging to use it, and not particularly appealing; after all, where can they go when there is limited space to put their feet? Instead, their presence should be replaced by hummingbirds themselves — perfect if you love observing them in your garden!

If you're struggling to find a suitable product, you can pick one up from Lowe's for $5.98, but for a slightly higher price, there is also a pretty feeder cup from Bird's Choice for $9.99, which you should be able to hang anywhere in your backyard. In fact, you could even craft your own DIY mason jar hummingbird feeder with no perch or use little nectar cups. Of course, you can always choose something different to suit your taste, as there are plenty of options available. You just need to ensure it's in the right place, which brings us to our next point. 

Your hummingbirds want a bit of privacy when they visit your feeders, which you can achieve by implementing secluded areas for each feeder in your yard, thus encouraging each type of bird to go to its personal dedicated feeder. Combine that with not having any perchers, and you should be able to separate each species nicely. However, this will require careful monitoring on your behalf to check if any questionable ones are returning so you can decide if you need to make any changes to your setup. Seeing the results of these changes may take some time, so be patient and stay observant. 

In addition, you should also ensure that you avoid placing your feeder in locations such as in the sun, or windows in or around your home, as it can have a negative impact on both the animals using it and the nectar. Instead, opt for a shady area that (again) gives them plenty of privacy. By removing any feathery friends who enjoy nectar and directly supporting hummingbirds, you'll also be helping the earth, as these adorable creatures help pollinate various plants such as beebalms and petunias.