You set up your bird feeder and you are waiting anxiously to see signs of your feathered friends flitting about the yard. But after a few days, there are still no birds in sight - what's wrong? Be patient as sometimes it just takes time, but also double-check these key items to make sure there aren't other simple issues which might be keeping the birds away:

1. Make sure your feeder is clean and contains fresh, quality seed. Birds don’t like to eat out of a dirty, moldy container any more than you do! Clean your feeders with a 10% solution of bleach in warm water. Discard food that smells musty, is wet or looks moldy. Lyric offers premium blends, guaranteed to attract more birds to your feeders.

2. Be sure to offer protection for the birds. Place your feeder near bushes or thick shrubs where birds can feel safe while they eat. Many prefer to observe the feeder from a distance. Once things appear safe, they will dart in for a quick snack, then return to the safety of nearby cover.

3. Offer a variety of food and use more than one feeder. All birds have different preferences. For example, doves like to eat on the ground, goldfinches like tube feeders and cardinals like sunflower seeds on a platform feeder.

4. Watch for new predators in the area. Is there a new neighborhood cat that might be wandering nearby and scaring the birds away? Install feeders in areas not readily accessible to cats and install fences or other barriers to keep stray cats from feeders.

5. Don’t forget to provide a water source for your backyard birds. They’re looking for food, but water is also a way to attract them to your yard. Still birdbaths are fine, but small fountains with bubbling, moving water are more popular with birds because they can hear it's nearby.

6. Many pesticides, herbicides and fungicides are toxic to birds. Avoid using these near areas where birds feed, bathe or rest. Always follow the manufacturer's directions.