Before I get into information on feeders, here is some information to get you started:

• Birds of the Texas Hill Country by Mark W. Lockwood, Terry Maxwell, Clemente Guzman (Illustrator) – a book I strongly suggest on the birds you may begin to see around your home once you get your feeders set up.
• Local Birds of Central Texas – an easy foldout of bird pictures and descriptions. Find it in the aisle of H-E-B.
• Guadalupe State Park – visit the park, just three miles east on Hwy 46, and pick up these two FREE publications by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
  • Birds of the Edwards Plateau
  • Providing for Backyard Wildlife
• A Little Nature Store at 106 E Theissen, just off Main Street in Boerne; 830.249.2281 – a great little shop with lots of bird feeders and friendly information.

Bird feeders come in a dazzling variety of shapes and sizes. Many designs are based upon careful research to attract birds with spectacular efficiency. More than ever, anyone can quickly learn the basics of bird feeding and choose a feeder that will lure a wide variety of birds throughout the winter months. 

Choosing a Feeder

There are five types of bird feeders: hopper, platform, tube, nectar and suet. Variations of each type number in the hundreds. Many species of birds will visit hopper and platform feeders filled with seed mixes. Tube feeders are designed for finches, but will attract other kinds of birds, especially if a bottom tray is attached. Woodpeckers are attracted to suet feeders.

Buying a Feeder

Before buying a feeder, decide how many feeding stations you want, and where you’ll place them. A feeding station is a single feeder, or a group of feeders in one location. Be practical at first. Check out seed prices and decide if you have the time and energy to fill several feeders weekly. When shopping for a feeder, consider the quality of its materials and construction, its ease of filling and cleaning, and how much seed it can handle. Try to imagine the feeder after a heavy rain or after strong winds. Are the seeds soaked? Is the seed tray filled with water? The best feeders include covers and built-in drainage systems. The king of all bird feeders is made by All Seasons Feeders and it’s called the Wild Bird Feeder. It holds 20 pounds of seed and is powder coated. 

Where to Place Feeders

The location of your feeding station is important in two respects: Birds need the cover of trees or shrubs nearby to feel safe and welcome, and the feeder should be close enough to your window or porch so that you can enjoy their theatrics.

A Basic Feeding Station

Start with a single platform, hopper or large tube feeder. Each accommodates large and small birds and can be hung from a tree or hoisted on a pole. Fill any of these feeders with black oil sunflower seeds and you’re certain to get visitors, usually within days. Remember to position the feeders where you can see them clearly. Provide a birdbath filled with fresh water. Keep your feeders filled with dry seeds. If jays, cowbirds and other large birds are crowding out smaller birds, switch to a feeder that discriminates, or blocks them, but not the smaller, more desirable birds.

Have fun exploring the many types of bird feeders on the market. Attracting birds to your yard and around your home will greatly enhance the sights and sounds found in Cordillera Ranch. If you keep your feeders full of seed and food year-round, you’ll be amazed at the number of our feathered friends that visit your home.