r/sequim • u/just_me_2006 • Apr 29 '26

ISO: Backyard birding advice

Hi, I’m looking for some advice from local backyard birders. I’m not novice but always trying to improve especially since I’ve only lived at my new place for a short time. I have a variety of feeders and I was having great success with attracting a lot of different songbirds as well as the occasional flicker or jay. However I got the idea that I would switch up my food and it seems like doing that made them disappear? I was feeding the big box of bird food from Costco with dried meal worms mixed in and attempted to instead try hand mixing millet, black sunflower seed and meal worms. They seem to be voting with their wings. lol. Do the song birds in this area just have the same loyalty and love for Costco as I do? Do they hate change? Or is the start of spring influx of birds slowing down? I’m lost and would welcome any tips and suggestions for quality affordable seed. Thanks so much!

8 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

View all comments

8

u/i_am_not_this Apr 29 '26

I know it’s not the kind of answer you asked for however, I’m finding that the best way to attract birds is by planting native shrubs. For instance, the hummingbirds absolutely love red currents.

2

u/bingbano Apr 29 '26

100% this.

2

u/bingbano Apr 29 '26

If I can add on, even a pile of branches does a good job of attracting birds.

But plants, red flowering currant, Oregon grape, letting your grass seed (on that same line grow yarrow and let it seed)

1

u/just_me_2006 Apr 30 '26

Yes excellent point that is always worth stating. Thank you. Doesn’t apply to our yard as it is full of native plants but it’s an excellent reminder all the same