anyone here have a balcony from which they feed birds?

11 years ago

I've done really well with feeding the wild birds when I had an apartment with access to a yard with trees. Now however I live in an apartment building and have a 4th floor balcony. The balcony overlooks a small parking lot, and beyond that are yards with trees, but the nearest trees are about 70 or so yards away.

I can see lots of birds flying over these yards, but naturally never see the birds flying anywhere over our parking lot, not to mention anywhere near our balconies.

I currently have a good number of plants on my balcony, some of which are vines growing up trellises. I have also just ordered some small shrubs and a Japanese maple, which I will plan to put up on a small table so that it can be more noticeable to birds flying in the vicinity.

Before I invest time and money in buying feeders and seed, I'm wondering what my chances are...has anyone else in a similar situation been successful in attracting birds to their balcony? Is it possible that with the proliferation of folks who now feed the wild birds via bird feeders, that birds have come to 'recognize' bird feeder shapes, and that they hold potential food? ;-) So in other words, is it possible that simply by my having a hanging pole that extends out from my balcony, and with a feeder hanging from it, that birds who happen to see it will immediately recognize that it likely holds food, and come pay a visit? ;-)

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Comments (5)

GoldfinchGuy
11 years ago
Birds have very keen eyesight, so I'm sure they'd eventually find your feeder. Before you buy a feeder you can try putting out a dish filled with some seed to get birds to notice. Then when they start comung regularly you can replace the dish with a feeder. In addition to the feeders in my yard I have a plastic dish nailed to the balcony upstairs with peanuts in it for blue jays. I have seen some siskins and finches up there lately so I might also put somesunflower seed in it too.
Lynn Nevins
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks. I didn't realize birds were known for keen eyesight. So then you think that birds have come to 'recognize' bird feeders from afar, as being food sources...that as long as the feeders are visible, the birds will know they are a 'good thing' worth flying over to?

I did already put out one feeder so far....a round slinky-style feeder into which you can stuff whole peanuts. I probably put that out on the side of my balcony like two weeks ago; no takers yet. Maybe the problem is that the feeder isn't protruding in anyway....it's laying flush against the side of my (black) balcony railings, and the feeder itself is also black...so maybe I need to 'hang' the feeder more....so it doesn't blend in so much with the railing?
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Just hadda share about hawks. Came to this forum to ask a bird question but this post subject intrigued me so I hadda check it out. I've had a hawk in my area for several years now, but only seen him in flight or sitting up on top of a dead tree a block away. But what happend the other day was new to me. There's a small tree across the street that all my sparrows fly to after they feed at my front yard feeders. I was out in my garden and guess I got 'lucky.' All of a sudden, I saw a big bird go flying into that tree !! At first I thought it was a pigeon since I have to deal with them, as well. But it turned out to be that hawk !! I say I got lucky, because I feel as others have said, it's nature and I've never seen a hawk THAT close to the ground!! Anyway, birds scattered, flying out of the tree all at once, making a big ruckus. Then out flew few stragglers, then even a few more after that. Seeing some of them taking so long, I was sure he'd snagged one. I took a chance and walked s-l-o-w-l-y across the street to see if he was feasting on one (not to sound morbid, but once again...it's nature). I wasn't even sure he was still in the tree but as I got about three feet away, out he flew and then just stopped and landed on a fence post, only several feet away from me. He even looked over at me as if to say, "HA HA, you can't catch me, but I'll let you SEE me." He was close enough that for the first time in my life, I could see his markings, his eyes, his magnificance. I took a another step closer and of course, he flew away...towards my house, across the neighbor's roof and then off, off and away. But it was a wonderful experience for me. I was so taken aback that I called my mom and said I wish I had a zoom camera ALWAYS hanging around my neck. My camera phone just wouldn't have done justice. I'm glad he didn't get any of my 'babies' and don't wish death on any animal, but it's survival of the fittest. It's the balance of nature. Of course -- I need to state that I DID NOT read every post in this forum so I may be expressing something that is in total opposition to another post or even the topic at hand. If so, I apologize..... But I just HADDA share. It was soooo cool. bonnie aka brit5467
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Thank you for responding, it's been a heavy hearted day. I did take some pics, then I got some waterproof foil tape and wrapped it loosely around the trunk, only adhering the tape back onto itself (so no adhesive on trunk.) We also cut up some holographic poster board into strips and hung strips around the tree...that's supposed to scare the birds off. I took down the feeders completely, with a very heavy heart and will put them back up in a few days....on another area of the property. Unfortunately, I also have another new tree in the backyard which also has lichen growing on it, so I don't want to put those feeders near there. The feeders won't be anywhere in my viewing area, which is a big bummer for me. We couldn't get the reflective tape or holographic strips and into the upper 3rd of the tree and we saw a woodpecker land...however, the bird left soon thereafter, since there was no food around. At the same time, we saw a male and female Baltimore Oriole land on the tree and I just about swooned...we have not seen them before! I do think I could get some orange out for them and the woodpeckers would not be interested, right?
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Thanks for the great thoughts. Yes, I do have plants on my balcony....two blueberry shrubs (first year shrubs though, so no berries this year. I know birds LOVE them, no? ;-) All the rest are flowering plants or herbs....though no flowers out at this time, but surely I have greenery. And in the Fall I understand my blueberry plants will turn color and my Wisteria I think as well? Anyway that's a good idea to just set some seed and water out though....I have 6' open weave (very open in fact) trellises all along the balcony railings, so there's really no place to 'set' seed or water right now, except on top of a table or on the balcony floor. That might be next to impossible for getting the birds' attention. My initial plan was to get feeders etc that can be affixed to the railing and/or by utilizing hangers affixed to the railings, and then suspending the feeders from those. Anyway, I DO also have some wire pot holders that hang from the side of the balcony and so they face outwards. Maybe I could remove the pots from the holders, and put some kind of dish or receptacle in there to see if the birds come. Course, the receptables will have to be sorta narrow...the pot holders are only about 8" wide....but maybe a plastic soup container filled with peanuts in the shell would be the best best. Bluejays (which I HAVE heard in the area) should easily be able to pluck out some peanuts from that. And if I see that works, then I can augment my collection, since once one bird comes (esp loud Jays), the others will follow. I've also heard cardinals in the area.... Tx!
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GoldfinchGuy
11 years ago
If it sticks out a bit more they may notice it better. I don't know if they can immediately recognize feeders as a food source, but birds are by nature very inquisitive creatures, and will investigate different objects. Chickadees are particularly known to be the first bird to investigate a brand new feeder that is put out.

I have the same peanut feeder you have. I bought it initially to attract blue jays, but it took over a month before they started showing up. The woodpeckers and chickadees found it first.
Lynn Nevins
Original Author
11 years ago
Guess what?!! I hadn't even changed the position of my round whole peanut feeder yet and....this morning I was awoken by a bird call and I thought '....wait a minute...that bird sounds very close by!'....so I get up and peer out to my balcony....and there he was in all his glory! ...a blue jay!....I didn't actually see him with a peanut...he flew away after 30 seconds or so....but I think at this point it's just a matter of time now before they start coming on a more regular basis.

It so happens that about a week ago, for my first time ever, I saw three other birds (finches) perched on my balcony for just a second or so, and then they flew off.

I suspect the additional plants I've ordered (barberry, forsythia and a japanese maple), plus some hanging hooks and a few tube and suet feeders I ordered, plus the heated bird bath that's also on the way, will bring about my desired goal. ;-)
GoldfinchGuy
11 years ago
Awesome! Expect future visits and Don't be surprised if in the future the blue jay brings his mate and fledglings to your feeder! Sounds like the peanut feeder is in a good place as is. You're well on your way to making some feathered friends. I'm going to be putting a heated birdbath on my Christmas list! :)

anyone here have a balcony from which they feed birds?

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anyone here have a balcony from which they feed birds?

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