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How to position the bird table
Mounting
A metal post is best to mount your bird table on to make it impossible for cats and difficult for squirrels to climb. It is much easier, however, to attach the table to a wooden post and slide a length of plastic drainpipe or similar over it to make it unscalable.
Drive the post into the ground (allow for about a foot of post in the ground) or make it free-standing with a cross-shaped base. The table needs to be 4-6 feet (1.2-1.75 m) off the ground. The best height will depend on the level you will be viewing from, the agility of the neighbourhood cats and the height of the person in charge of stocking and cleaning the table.
Whichever way the post is fixed the table must be firm. If on a cross-shaped base, make the feet long enough to stop the table from blowing over. If wind is a problem you could peg the feet down or put rocks on them. Use small metal angle brackets at the top of the post to fix the table, or small blocks of wood (or plastic blocks from DIY stores) which can be screwed to the post from the side and the table from below.
Hanging
To hang a table, use screw-in eyes or hooks to each corner and attach lengths of wire or a light metal chain (avoid lines which can be chewed through by squirrels). To stop the table from spinning round, the chain needs to be hung from more than one point, so make loops of the chains at either end of the table and hang it from a horizontal branch (or your washing line). To protect a tree from being cut by the chain, thread the chain through a section of garden hose.
Window ledges
Bird tables can be fixed to window ledges with angle brackets, chains or angled supports depending on the site.
A ground feeding tray
For those birds that prefer to feed on the ground, a low-level bird table can be provided. This should be mounted no more than 10 cm off the ground (to allow the grass to 'breathe') and moved fractionally each time you put out food. This prevents both the build up of droppings in one part of the garden and damage to your lawn. Remember, beware of cats under shrub cover.
Last modified: 23 August 2006