With some time and patience, you can get the wild songbirds in your backyard to eat seed from your hand. The experience, tiny bird feet alighting on your fingertip for a fraction of a second before you feel their wings stir the air as they take off, is magical.
How to Welcome Birds into Your Yard
If you already have a seed feeder in your yard, the birds will be used to checking out the area for food. If you don’t have a seed feeder, hang up one near trees or shrubs so when the birds grab a seed they have a protected place to fly to while they open the seed.
Become a Human Birdfeeder
When the seed level goes down, throw on warm clothing and grab some birdseed. Position yourself near the empty feeder (you don’t have to be close enough to touch it). Hold your hand out, palm open so the birds can see the seed you’ve placed on your hand. There’s no need to cover your palm with seed, whatever you pick up in your fingertips will be plenty.
You will want to hold your hand away from your body, somewhere between chin and chest height, so the birds can see the seed. Turn your head so you aren’t staring at your hand, but are gazing out the corner of your eye. Otherwise, the birds will see you as a predator considering them for your next meal.
You can also try setting a handful of seed on top of your hat – but you won’t get to see the birds when they grab a seed.
Now, be patient. Small birds will wing their way over to you and veer off at the final instant. Some will land on the empty feeder and chirp their frustration at the strange new arrangement near their food. The birds will not take seed from your hand the first time you try this activity. Be prepared to go outside for a few minutes every day so the birds get used to your presence and see you as an extension of the feeding station.
When you are tired of holding out a handful of seed to attract the birds, fill the feeder so the birds continue to associate the area with food. Each day, stand in the same spot. If more than one person is trying to do this, follow the same process; just avoid standing within touching distance of one another.
Create a "Personable" Bird Feeder
For a more elaborate plan, set up a lawn chair near your bird feeding station and construct a mannequin, stuffing an old pair of pants and a shirt then setting it into the chair. Add gloves and sprinkle seed on the gloves. Yes, this is like a scarecrow, only you will use it to attract the birds.
After a few days of noticing the birds landing on the mannequin, sit in its place and set some seed on your hand. With hope, the birds will view you as the mannequin and take the seed. If you want to repeat this activity, keep the mannequin in the chair, moving it only when you take its place.
Don’t expect to have dozens of birds sitting on your shoulders. Keep in mind that birds don’t linger at the feeder. Birds grab a seed and go to a tree or shrub while they crack open the shell. However, wouldn’t it be fun if they took their seed from your hand?
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