If your soil is heavy clay, for example, it will hold the pole much better. Check the type of soil as well: If you are digging the pole straight into the ground without building a foundation you’ll need to dig much deeper on a soft soil. But this is not a perfect mathematical formula! You will need to take into consideration the size of the feeder, the weight of the feeder and the food combined and whether there is a risk of heavy winds or lots of snow accumulating on it. How To Install A Tray Feeder Securely On a PoleĪs a rule of thumb, the pole will need to be dug into the ground for about 25/30% of its length to be secure. Use bushes and plants to your advantage to provide shy birds with cover and to make the feeder look part of your garden and you won’t regret the extra effort. The more natural and organic the placement, the more likely you add to get more exotic visitors to your tray feeder. Too exposed! While sparrows and blackbirds will eat from anywhere, other birds such as cardinals will require a slightly more secure and protected environment. It is very difficult to attract shy birds to a feeder that is standing in full view, without any bushes nearby that could be used to hide from predators. If you want to maximise the amount of birds that visit the feeding station, try to work with the environment. A pole that is 10 feet tall will make this difficult, however lovely the view is from your living room window. Tray feeders must be refilled and cleaned often, and should never hold more than a day or two worth of feed. Figure out where you’ll be watching from and ensure the platform is at eye level when you are in that location. If you are installing the feeder to watch birds, it makes sense to install it at a height that will make the most of it. Big birds may become bullish against smaller ones and take over the feeder, so it’s important to keep an eye on the bird feeder visitors. They are also less likely to attract deer but squirrels will always give it a go. Higher placed tray feeders will attract finches, chickadees and cardinals as well, depending on your area. Most importantly, a ground level feeder can become a cat and fox feeding station which is less than ideal. But they will also attract rodents and mammals: expect to see squirrels, deer, raccoons and other non-flying visitors. Placed near the ground, they will attract ground-feeding species such as doves, jays, blackbirds, sparrows and juncos. You can install a platform bird feeder with pole at different heights. Where To Install A Platform Bird Feeder With Pole If you want to enjoy watching squirrels eat, it’s better to install a dedicated squirrel feeder for them and squirrel-proof your bird feeder. Word of warning, unless you protect your bird feeder from squirrels, expect the little critters to come visit and disturb your birds. Smaller ones often hang from a pole but larger ones should be installed on top of the pole as a platform to avoid them falling off. If you install it anywhere within good line of sight you can enjoy lots of different birds through your window. Since platform feeders allow for full view of their contents, they make an awesome feeder for bird watching in your garden. Some models come with a roof that offers some protection from the elements but even at its best the seeds will be exposed to rain or wind. The best platform bird feeders will have a screened bottom or drainage holes as otherwise wet seeds will sprout or develop fungal and bacterial growth. They attract the widest variety of seed-eating birds, with pigeons, starlings and sparrows being frequent guests. Pin It For Later! What Is a Platform Bird Feeder With Pole?Ī platform bird feeder is a basically a wide tray or platform, usually hanging from a tree branch or in our case mounted on top of a suitable feeder pole. Unlike hopper feeders, platform feeders won’t protect the seed from the elements so they are better as summer bird feeders. A platform bird feeder is a great choice if you want to attract a wide variety of different birds, and most people will use a wide-appealing mix of grains and seeds on theirs. They can also be mounted on a pedestal if you want, but usually a pole is easier and takes less ground space. They are easy to install and work for all types of birds: those who eat from the ground and perching birds.Īs the name implies, a platform bird feeder with pole is mounted over a pole and can be placed anywhere in the garden that has ground deep enough to guarantee stability. If you are just getting started feeding birds in your garden, you can’t go wrong with a platform bird feeder with a pole.
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