This info from feederwatch gives a good overview for what you're asking. There is also a 'feeder birds interactive' matrix of birds, food, and feeder types.
If you have squirrels they will absolutely be an issue. I highly recommend using feeder poles with squirrel baffles like this. Place your pole out of jumping range (say 6') of any launching points and you will be all set. There are more guidelines for placement at feederwatch (close to cover but not too close, within 8' or so from windows etc).
Suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts are all immensely popular and reasonably priced. Don't get cheap mixes; the filler ingredients tend to bring in undesirable species from what I understand. Water is also crucial (and free!) and is a nice attraction to bring creatures in.
It's super important to clean your feeders and birdbaths frequently to prevent spreading bird diseases. I have a lot of birds and several feeders and there really isn't poop everywhere. Keep the area as clean as is practicable. Spilled seed gets eaten (another reason to clean) so nothing really gets planted that way.
Have fun, you will love it! Consider doing feederwatch next winter. I enjoyed it immensely :)
I use these and have 3 hanging from each other. Fill with black oiled sunfl0wer seeds and the starlings ignore them.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HLSP9ZA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
I put this and a sunflower seed ball up. Keeps the Squires and bully birds at bay.
I love mine. The only birds that feed at them so far are a family of 3 Grey Jays.. They feed all day long at the feeder. This is the one I bought. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HRX1J5R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 I like the removal tray so I can bring it in at night and keep the tray clean. It's pretty tricky for birds to land on but the Gray Jays have gotten good at it because it's the only place I feed them their favorite foods which are scrambled eggs and dry cat food
Highly recommend this feeder for small birds. Adjust the roof with generous clearance at first, and keep lowering it bit by bit until the pigeons cant get in. At that point it should be enough for cardinals and grosbeaks but not pigeons and doves.
I'm using a Gardepro E6 https://www.amazon.com/GardePro-Bluetooth-Activated-Waterproof-Wildlife/dp/B08VRDFSNL
It does motion sensor detection, and has (kind of shitty) wifi so you can adjust settings remotely.
Note that it needs 1.5V rechargable AAs (I bought https://www.amazon.com/EBL-Battery-Batteries-Capacity-Rechargeable/dp/B08RZ5NDMM)
I solved my dove problem, by the way!
1) Only put unshelled peanuts in tray feeders -- doves don't go for them.
2) Get a weight sensitive feeder like https://www.amazon.com/Squirrel-Buster-Standard-Perches-Capacity/dp/B00ABGSX4S which will shut when they land on it if you set the spring weight properly
They'll learn soon there's nothing for them
Updates on my anti dove measures:
I've finally won! I bought a squirrel buster
And calibrated it to about dove weight. When they come, they weigh down the feeder and shut the door, but sparrows and finches have no problem. Dove finish off the sunflower seeds left on the ground by messy sparrows.
I had some cardinals weeks ago but they've all but vanished. Hopefully the persistence of the feeder encourages them to come back for some delicious daily sunflower.
The one I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08VRDFSNL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
An example video: https://www.reddit.com/r/birdfeeding/comments/vlzatc/rate_my_setup_brooklyn_ny/
Motion detection, and has wifi so you can connect and check out the feed from the app (though it's a bit clumsy)
I've been having trouble with pigeons for a while, they defeated every "pigeon proof" feeder I got (some pigeons were smart enough to know if they crash into feeders then seeds fall out).
After about a year and many different attempts, I have finally solved it.
Pick a medium sized feeder, and put it in 2 hanging baskets, I'm using these. The gaps in the hanging baskets are great for allowing smaller birds through.
Sparrows are messy eaters, so you'll need a circular tray either attached to the bottom of the feeder or just sit the feeder on the tray (while it's inside the hanging baskets).
Some sparrows are really messy, and will shovel the seed from the tray to the ground.
So below the feeder you put a wide holed rabbit cage. The gaps are 4.3cm, so sparrows and other small birds get through easily.
I've also got a peanut and sunflower seed feeder attached inside the cage.
On the positive side, I have dozens of sparrows and fledglings visiting every day, and they are completely safe from cats and bigger birds.
On the negative side, my back yard looks like a crazy person lives here.
Honestly, you can do whatever you want in terms of placement. When hanging them from trees though, you'll more than likely be getting some squirrel visitors, especially for what you're putting so far with suet and peanuts. If you don't mind them, then have at it! If you don't want squirrels, there are lots of other solutions out there to deal with them. I can't really say for sure what would work best for you without seeing your setup and knowing your location and everything, so just know that if you come across a problem, there is undoubtedly a solution for it that someone here knows lol.
Since you're a newbie at this, I'll add two things: 1. Welcome! And prepare to spend more money on this than you thought possible lol. 2. I highly recommend picking up a book like The Joy of Bird Feeding. I had been feeding birds for years before I got this book, and it still taught me new things. I'm sure other people have used other books with similar success, but this is my go-to.
Best of luck!
I’m a Texas birder (hello neighbor!) so we have many birds in common. I’m trying to picture your alley; is this your backyard or just outside your window?
Have you seen birds around? Do you have trees or native plants nearby?
I have a hanging feeder that is very popular with the neighborhood birds (a cardinal pair, house finches, Carolina chickadees, etc.) and a suet feeder that’s nailed to the wall that’s visited by downy woodpeckers, blue jays, and the chickadees. Also a ground feeder for the blue jays and doves. I recently put out a small birdbath that attaches to my porch rail with a solar powered fountain. I just put it out yesterday so it’s too soon to report back on but it’s already seen some action!
If you put out feeders, the birds will come! It may take them a few weeks to find them, so don’t get discouraged if they don’t show up right away.
Here’s a double upside down feeder, maybe this would help? This is the only style feeder I have seen that starlings can’t get at, and I have tried a few.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NLJLN8T/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_2FE3H67XAWSS5XEACHEB
Bird Jacuzzi - It’s a heated water bowl meant for dogs. I put some bricks in it and then another bowl of fresh water because I don’t always clean it as much as I should (I’m disabled…and allergic to cold air so, it was an easy solution.)
The birds use it for drinking water everyday. I haven’t seen a bird try to bathe in it…but that’s sort of by design. Water bowl on Amazon
They prefer the water bowl on the deck railing (the blue jays are drinking out of it in the video). It’s a ceramic bowl insulated by foam and dark duct tape with 2 black river rocks in it. I put it on the heat vent during the night, along with their water so it’s nice and warm. Surprisingly, the water doesn’t freeze for several hours even at really low temperatures if the sun is out.
I modified this feeder bird feeder adding copper bare thermostat wire to reduce the size of openings. The wires can be slid to adjust opening size. Mine only allows chickadees in.
Connect two large hanging baskets, and hang your feeder in the middle.
I also use a tray in the bottom of the baskets to catch spilled seed.
It works, kind of. Sparrows can use it, but we've got a lot less coming. They much prefer to use a nearby feeder, and only come to ours when the neighbors is low.
Check the reviews for the basket below, it seems more used as a feeder protector than for plants.
Kingfisher 16 inch Hanging Basket https://smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003PKZY4E/
If you never find it, I've used this one for almost 10 years. https://www.amazon.com/Squirrel-Buster-Classic-Feeding-Capacity/dp/B000HHHEF0/ref=sr_1_41?keywords=bird+feeders&qid=1639928647&sr=8-41
I just bought this one at the local birdshop but it's also available readily elsewhere. I'm pretty happy with it so far! Aspects HummZinger High View---very easy to clean, has a built in ant moat. Since hummingbird feeders require more frequent refill and cleaning than a regular seed feeder this is a big plus. More than the feeder itself I'd emphasize that part to the gift recipients! Good luck!
They have a hard time with the mesh style feeders. There’s nowhere for them to perch. If you put black oil sunflower seeds in it the little birds will eat them, no problem
Do you have a spot close to the feeder where you could hang a small birdbath?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091SQGMCX
That is what I have currently. It's about the size of a dinner plate and as a bonus, if you also have a place to hang the tray feeder that comes with it, you're only going to improve your chances of seeing some visitors by offering different options/reasons to visit.
More Birds Elixir Hummingbird Feeder, Vintage Glass Medicine Bottle, 5 Feeding Ports and 13-Ounce Nectar Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008RFSJP8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_P48HXXEFYC62CW1YBTZG?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Been using two of these for the past two summers. Easy to clean and very well made.
I've got one of these. It's perfect for smaller birds like finches and sparrows. Cardinals and Blue Jays are too big to fit through the outer cage. Squirrels can't even get close.
That is how I have mine. I have gone around the bend with the feeders this year. What makes everything possible (squirrel-wise, besides distance from launching points) is cone baffles (https://www.amazon.com/Woodlink-NABAF18-Audubon-Squirrel-18-Inch/dp/B0010QD5QO). Also added a suction-cup window feeder recently and it's awesome.
The squirrels won't warn each other, they all will have to find out on their own. Hot sauce should definitely keep some of them away, it just makes me uncomfortable knowing they are in pain. I was doing this for 2 weeks with ghost pepper hot sauce and felt bad after, my squirrels were only dazed and none rubbed their snouts on the floor. the hot sauce was 800K scoville, I cant imagine what scoville yours must be to evoke that kind of reaction
having already tried it, I don't think its good strategy for keeping them off the feeders. we have one squirrel who would lick the fucking hot sauce off like it was no problem. Its possible some individuals are immune / they have a tolerance or even taste for capsaicin.
squirrels proof feeders ^((this feeder works great and i got it for 18$ at Lowes),) good placement, and feeder covers have almost completely solved my squirrel problem even with my feeders hanging from trees.
Using the other methods I've mentioned, I've been able to keep 8/9 of the frequent squirrels off my feeders. The individual that can still make it on one of my feeders, has very hard time getting any food. And usually the grackles and jays get sick of his shit when he's blocking the feeder and pester him off.
so all in all, the hot sauce was messy, didn't entirely work, and made me feel bad. But, this is just one opinion, its possible someone else has had different experiences with hot sauces.
good luck with ya birbs.