From Woodlink. 1 - Keep your bird feeder full all year around. 2 - Place feeders in a native landscape that has a healthy supply of trees and shrubs... the birds will feed more often and stay longer. 3 - Birds are more likely to frequent your feeding stations that always have a consistent supply of water. 4 - Use natural foods in the winter months
5 - Locate feeders at different levels to avoid over crowding and attract the greatest variety of species.
6 - Attract more birds by providing a variety of differentfeeders | 
Bird Feeding You can't go wrong with Sunflower seeds...they are among the most versatile food for birds. Where you live, the type of food you offer, and the habits of different bird species will determine the types of birds you will attract to your feeder. make note of what kinds of birds are in your area and buy seeds accordingly or make a suet cake! Keep the feeder well stocked in bad weather, and do not let wet food stay in the feeder long enough to spoil. Notice which foods are being ignored by the birds, and adapt your feeding plan accordingly. |
Types of feeders
The best way to watch birds is to establish a bird feeder, and the best time to feed birds is in the winter. Watching the feeding birds can help people recognize the different species and learn about birds. Feeding birds can be a very simple affair. Just scattering bread crusts on the snow or seed on a bench or table will attract some birds. But if bird feeding is to be a long-term interest, some additional steps should be taken to avoid problems. The food must be protected from rain and snow or from unwanted guests such as squirrels. It is best to place food in a feeder which protects seed from bird droppings. The birds should not be made vulnerable to predation or other hazards by careless placement of the bird feeder. It is important to continue feeding through bad weather so that any birds that may have become dependent on the food supply will be able to eat when they need to. A hopper-type feeder that can hold food for several days can help ensure a continuous supply.
Most birds appreciate water to drink if the weather is not too cold. To limit cost, put a measured amount of food out each day, whatever you decide you can afford. If the feeder is empty an hour later, don’t worry. If you are consistent, the birds will adjust their foraging to the supply and find more food elsewhere.
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Some birds that usually eat dormant insects and their eggs in the winter can be attracted to feeders by fat-rich foods such as suet, and for some species, sunflower seeds. Nuthatches, woodpeckers, and chickadees are all fat-loving species. A yard with saskatoon, elderberry, mountain ash, nannyberry, and crabapple or vines such as wild grape or Virginia creepers will attract birds that eat fruit and are rarely found at regular feeders. | 
Even the American Robin will overwinter where such a food supply is.
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Other activities
A well-established feeder provides a starting point for other activities with birds. Photography of birds at the feeder can provide hours of enjoyment. If you are taking pictures of birds, watch to see how they use branches as stopping places before they fly to the feeder...and how they use branches to clean thier beaks. Set up your camera to focus on one of the branches for more natural pictures than are possible on the feeder itself. If you have the passion and a few dollars, you can invest in a birdcam!
Resources
The informaiton on this page is from, Hinterland Who’s Who.
See for credits, and more information on wildlife in general. Video and sound clip resources, plus educational resources are available as well.