Question: I have recently moved to a twelfth floor apartment in a large city and miss the birds I used to feed every day. Is there any way to attract birds to the balcony of my apartment?
Answer: The answer to this question depends on many things. One would be the habitat around your building. If it is adjacent to a park it will attract cardinals and many of the finches.If it is adjacent to a park, a lake or a river your chances are better. Can you place flowers or small shrubs in pots on your balcony? Try for plants that produce nectar and have a long flowering season. This would catch the attention of birds more quickly than just hanging a bird feeder. The best time of the year to start your feeding station would be during migration. It is then that birds are looking for new food sources and have not established a routine. Depending on the part of the country you are in, you may try hummingbird and oriole feeders. I would also recommend a waste free seed such as hulled sunflower seeds or safflower seeds. Many birds are attracted to sunflower seeds and safflower will attract cardinals and many of the finches.