Where is the perfect location for a feeder?

I thought that I had it when I bought my feeder last year. It's directly in front of my front window. I have an excellent view of the birds, and the azaleas underneath it provide them with coverage. Over time, I have begun to see the negatives to this location:

1. The azaleas provide the squirrels with enough height that they can get to the feeder (a squirrelbuster). We have the fattest squirrels that I have ever seen.

2. The grass surrounding it is beginning to show the effects of the BOSS shells.

Now, I am trying to figure out where I should relocate my feeders. While I am also looking into a possible extension onto my shepherd's pole, I'm not confident that this will work. So, I thought that I would check and see where other people place their feeders.

Hi penne, I would put it about 10 feet from cover.

Here's what Cornell has to say about it.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/attracting/feeding/feeder_location/document_view

This message was edited Dec 20, 2008 5:31 PM

Hi pennefeather. I have placed all my feeders in my backyard. 1. For one of the problems you mentioned. i didn't want all the seeds and hulls littering up my front yard.
2. there is more natural cover for the birds in my backyard (oaks, pines, etc)
3. There is less activity back there.

Now, I do have some Blue Jays that are quite active in a large oak tree that is in my front yard but they don't come very close to the house. I have two bird baths, one in front and one in back. The birds rarely use the one in the front yard