Warning! The  bird watcher general has declared that bird watching is a highly addictive hobby with no known cure. Bird watching and feeding is a close second to America’s favorite hobby, gardening, and even in the winter months, it is still possible to enjoy this pastime.

   Many people are simply satisfied seeing birds at the, feeders and watching the LBBs (little brown birds) as they take the offered seeds. If you watch long enough, you start to realize the birds are different and you want to begin identifying them. But once you start identifying the birds, other strange things – like yard lists – begin to appear in your house.
   The most successful approach to bird identification is watching the bird for as long as it is visible, noting details like size, color, stripes, tail and bill length, and shape. Once you have taken note of all that you can, consult a field guide, the internet, or local nature center to identify the LBBs.
   The type of seed that you offer will determine what birds might visit your yard. Several feeding stations (groups of different feeders at various heights) and water will attract the greatest number and variety of birds.
   The best, all-around food is the black-oil sunflower seed. It has a high fat content and a thin shell and is eaten by almost any bird that will visit a feeder. The small finches like the goldfinch and pine siskin are attracted to Nyjer thistle (not related to American thistle). Foods like peanuts and suet are attractive to woodpeckers, jays, nuthatches, and chickadees. Ground-feeding birds like doves, sparrows, juncos, jays, and turkeys will often flock to corn and white millet. Avoid economy bird seed mixes because they are usually a lot of filler seeds that most birds will not eat and will discard as they dig out the seeds that they like.
   There are many styles of feeders on the market that you can choose from. Tube feeders work well for smaller birds like chickadees and finches. Tube feeders come with two hole sizes: one for the small thistle seeds and one for larger sunflower types. Chubby birds like cardinals have a hard time sitting on a tube’s perch and reaching around their belly to get to the opening. Platform or open-tray feeders are good for them and for a variety of other birds; place an open one low for ground feeders and a covered one at eye-level for other birds. The hopper-style feeders resemble little houses and allow for a wide range of birds to collect seeds from the tray. No matter which feeder you choose, remember these two very important safety items: keep the feeder clean, and as much as possible place feeders about 10 feet from cover to protect birds from predators like cats.
   Water is a key element in attracting birds to your yard, especially in winter when natural water sources are frozen. Fancy heated birdbaths are available, but a simple stock tank heater from the local farm store will keep a garbage can lid of water open for drinking and bathing.
   Remember, we feed the birds for our own enjoyment. They can survive without us, but they can definitely make a drab winter day a bit more cheery.