Firstly you’ll have to decide if you are going to hang your bird table or sit it on a post. Of course if your bird table was supplied attached to a post then the decision has already been made for you. Metal poles are generally the best option as the prevent cats and squirrels from being able to climb up on to the table. However wooden poles seem to be more popular and are certainly easier for those of us who are going to attach the table ourself or how might even be building our own bird feeder.

If you’ve for whatever reason got a wooden pole you can either buy yourself a squirrel baffle which if a metal devise which clamps round the pole, acting as a barrier to unwanted guests.

The great thing about having a bird table on a pole is that it is so easy to situate it wherever is most suitable for the wildlife and also most suitable to allow for easy viewing by you and the family.

If your garden is particularly small then you may want to hang a bird feeder from a tree. This is a simple process that shouldn’t take long which allows anyone with a small area of land to attract birds into the garden. Problems may arise here if the local cats use the tree as a pathway to the feeder but there are ways around this.

Most importantly when considering where to position a bird table is to think about the safety of the birds. Generally a more open space is better as it allows birds to keep a look out for predators while they eat. Most neighborhoods will have a large number of roaming cats which see your new garden furniture as a free meal, so take care to put tables away from their reach. Make sure you don’t have any shrubs of hedges too close by where hungry felines can hide out.

The beauty of a bird table on a stand is that you can move them around the garden to most the most of the prevailing weather conditions. You might want to find a spot that gets direct sunlight in the winter to keep them as dry as possible but at the same time away from any strong winds. In summer you can choose a cooler part of the garden to give birds some relief from the heat.

When you have the birds safety sorted out you can decide if it is possible to get the feeder positioned to allow you to bird watch from the comfort of your home. After all, much of the advantage of attracting birds into your garden is the pleasure we get from viewing their behavior and listening to their song.

Thankfully feeding birds is a very popular activity in the UK so there is no shortage of people going their bit but the more the merrier so if you haven’t started yet learn a bit about the best way to go about it and join in. You’ll be amazed at how the extra bird activity in your garden adds a new dimension to your outdoor living space. The added colour and interesting behaviors of your garden birds will not only be of interest to you but are a great way to get children interested in wildlife.

Taking the time to understand the best way to feed birds will allow you to make the most of your garden in terms of your own enjoyment of the space and also ensure that you do the best for the birds. Take the necessary steps to ensure that you carry out responsible and safe bird feeding. By doing so you will help the birds to survive periods when there might be a shortage of food in the wild, when the climate takes a turn for the worse and help them be in excellent condition when the weather picks up again in spring.

Tips For Successfully Feeding Garden Birds

- Put out only an amount of food that can be consumed in a couple of days. This will help to keep bird food fresh and also help you keep bird feeding areas clean and tidy.

- Move bird tables and feeders around the garden periodically to avoid droppings building up in any one place.

- Have clean water available for bathing and drinking purposes.

- Use only natural, uncooked foods with no additives to help keep your birds as healthy as possible. Sunflower seeds and peanuts are great, just make sure you chop up the peanuts during nesting season as small chicks can choke on them.

- Regularly clean feeders, tables and water receptacles with disinfectant.

- Providing a variety of food in different locations throughout your garden to provide and varied diet and attract a wider range of species.

- Put bird tables and feeders away from any objects or shrubs that may be used by the local neighborhood cats to propel themselves on the table. Also, buy bird tables with taller poles may help minimise this possibility.