Can a bird feeder be too high

While bird feeders are commonly hung off a bracket or branch, there is an option for you to hang feeders off a much higher point in the backyard.

Feel free to hang a bird feeder where it is safe in your backyard, with a higher point off the ground being safer than the recommended average 6ft. height. Bird feeders can not be too high for birds, but can be out of reach for you. To clean and so too swap out old food, the feeders need to always be accessible.

Did you know wild birds that frequent our backyards are the same species that regularly feed high off the ground, as they forage amongst trees.

While a mature tree can be up to 30ft. or more where birds forage in the wild, its not that odd to offer wild birds food at a high point in the yard.

Indeed, this can be troublesome for you as you'd soon realize the feeders need to always be attended to. Thus an out of reach location is soon forgotten, whereas a lower point off the ground makes more sense.

Benefits to hanging bird feeders far off the ground is to avoid the four P's: predators, pets, pests and people... and I just made that up. In urban areas cats will be a serious issue around bird feeders, thus we must keep birds well out of reach.

And while birds can be scared off every time you enter the yard, birds may be seen to continue to feed if the location is such a high one.

Downside is these higher points in the yard are not at eye level, thus the only way to watch birds use your feeders is actually going outdoors.

What you must know is certain bird species can only feed lower to the ground, so a high location can reduce what birds can and cannot use your feeders.

As a 4 to 8 feet off the ground applies to most of you while using a bird feeding station or a wall bracket; a 20 to 30 feet location is similar to where birds feed in the wild, but serious issues can include feeders becoming inaccessible to you.

Higher up the better

You might say the higher up the bird feeder, the better it is. Why, well because then birds can feed in a more safe environment that is out of reach of ground predators.

Having said that there's really not many options when it comes to hanging a bird feeder on a high point in the yard.

In fact, many of you would be limited to use of a 5 ft. tall or so bird feeding station, or a wall bracket up to 6ft.

However, use of a tree branch can refer to some people so this is genuinely the only place where a bird feeder can be too high off the ground.

Height of the tree branch makes no difference to one at only 5ft. off the ground; if you really want to hang a bird feeder as high up as possible, you'd probably see just as much success with a feeder lower down.

Feeders hanging up to say 8ft. or above would indeed replicate where and how wild birds feed in nature, foraging up in and around trees for bugs, bark and buds.

Homeowners do not need to replicate this as you'd see birds happily using a feeder at a lower point around the backyard.

Too low is a problem

Bird feeders can indeed be too high but its worth remembering feeders can be too low also - resulting in pests being within reach of the bird food in use.

Too low bird feeders is not an option for most people, or you should at least know if you have the room, that is not to say its adequate.

Feeders that hang rely on it being clear all around with space below the feeders.

Why that is because birds need room to spread their wings as they come into land on the feeder, or quickly shoot off if disturbed.

Less so an issue in regards to room to maneuver below a bird feeder but its more to do with the feeder coming into contact with the vegetation.

Natural growth in your yard should never touch or be continuously in contact with the food contained within the feeder - as it only results in the feed going rotten more quickly.

With all that in mind, bird feeders absolutely benefit more by hanging off a high point other a lower location that causes all sorts of issues.

No danger of birds falling

While bird feeders can be too high for you, this position is unlikely to not be used by birds because of a too high location.

But what is more important to know is if this higher up location is safe for birds.

If you feel the hanging point off a tree branch or bracket is in fact causing you a few issues regarding an unstable bracket or similar issues - then understand this can in due course break, with all feeders collapsing to the ground.

Not a problem for most birds as they're feeding as they would simply know to quickly fly away, out of danger.

But would you risk your backyard birds getting injured knowing this can be avoided if only positioning the feeder lower down to the ground, for safety sake.

To hang a bird feeder high off the ground can be an issue for you, but less so for birds with the ability to fly - thus to ever see a bird fall to the ground because of a feeder being too high is a near impossibility.

Feeders within reach

What most people often forget when positioning a bird feeder in the yard is while its most definitely accessible to most birds, it will become less accessible to you.

As the person responsible for hanging up your new bird feeders, do you feel the location is made easily accessible to you?

Why that is because two to three times a week you'd need too clean out the feeder, and so too to swap out the rotten food. To locate the bird feeder too high off the ground would simply make the feeder inaccessible.

And if you find it difficult to access the feeders with ease for whatever reason, in due course its normal to see people give up trying.

Its important then the hanging bird feeders, or indeed where you pile up food for wild birds in your yard... is always within reach.

Why else this is vital because a higher location tends to be more out of sight.

Imagine then a bird feeder situated up to 10 feet off the ground to then realize you have to actually go outside to see birds feed, rather than view them at eye level while still in the house.

Height off ground summary

In a word a bird feeder can be too high, not so much for the wild birds but more so it can be made more difficult for you.

You are responsible for cleaning and changing out the bird food two to three times a week, so these feeders hanging up on a high point must be within reach.

Similarly, to hang a bird feeder high off the ground would be out of sight, thus you won't be able to do any backyard birding indoors. You'd be forced to step outside every time you want to see the feeding birds, as you can't look up from in the home.

Benefits to wild birds with a way up high bird feeder is it can mean a safer location.

Pests or even pets can disturb birds but less so if they're higher off the ground. More so pests can also be predators so a high point is sure to keep them out of reach.

No risks involved to locating a feeder too high off the ground for birds, but an out of reach feeder can in time result in you falling.

While bird feeders can be hung up to a height you deem suitable for your needs, so any height off the ground really; a lower hanging bird feeder is more of any issue as its brings the feeders within contact with pests, predators and pets.

Share this article: