Photograph of Red-breasted Nuthatch and Chestnut-backed Chickadee by Charles Oldham
Just fill feeders with enough seed for a few days!
Fill feeders with no more seed than will be consumed in 3 days. Place only sunflower seed in a hanging feeder. Offer millet and/or cracked corn and sunflower seed in a low, open screen-bottomed feeder.
Be sure your feeder is designed for Northwest weather. If it’s a wood feeder, here are a few tips: cedar feeders with large overhanging roofs, screen bottoms, screw construction, and no piano hinges are long lasting and weather-hardy.