Staying home to be safe from a virus? A wonderful way to while away some hours is to watch colorful songbirds and their antics at a bird feeder. The following is a discussion of bird feeders and bird seed and how to attract the widest variety of birds with the least waste of seed.

Birds that may visit your yard are generally grouped as ground feeders or tree feeders. Common ground feeders are mourning dove, brown thrasher, and chipping sparrows and all prefer to eat white proso millet, with a few exceptions. This can be spread on a platform type feeder or even on the patio.

Tree feeding birds such as Carolina chickadee, tufted titmouse, cardinal, blue jay, downy woodpecker, and red-bellied woodpecker prefer sunflower seed. A mixture of 80 percent black oil sunflower and 20 percent white millet would be the most economical way to attract a variety of birds. Remember, the millet must be white proso. Birds will not eat red millet, milo, or wheat, which are often used as cheap fillers in inexpensive bird food. These seeds will go to waste, thrown out of your feeder by birds, your money rotting on the ground.

To go a step beyond the basic seed, there are a few other types of food birds will enjoy. I offer these other foods in varying methods. For instance, a premium mix of black oil sunflower, safflower, and sunflower hearts is placed in a vertical tube feeder on a squirrel and raccoon proofed pole. It is easily accessed by chickadees, titmice, white-breasted nuthatch, and woodpeckers. Below the tube is a large tray where cardinals, mourning dove, blue jays, and brown thrashers feel more comfortable. For these birds, split peanuts, white proso millet, and sunflower hearts are offered. In my yard, titmice and blue jays select split peanuts above all else. We are always pleased when a summer tanager or a Baltimore oriole flies in to grab a peanut.

Also, on the tray or in a small cage under it mounted to the pole, a piece of suet cake is placed. Suet cakes are favored by birds that eat insects. Suet cakes primarily consist of beef fat mixed with corn meal, though some may also contain bird seed. More birds will utilize suet cakes in winter when insects are less abundant. At my feeder, the suet is used by bluebirds, Carolina wrens, and four species of warblers: pine, orange-crowned, yellow-rumped, and yellow-throated. The bluebirds and all four warblers only use suet in winter, so I supply it sparingly in summer. Interestingly, the orange-crowned and yellow-rumped spend their summers far to the north between the Great Lakes and Hudson Bay.

Another specialty seed, nyjer, was formerly sold as thistle seed. It is a type of tiny sunflower seed, not a seed from thistle plants. Goldfinch, who are winter migrants, may be seen at feeders from January to April and enjoy nyjer seed. Nyjer is imported from India or Africa and may be expensive and requires a special feeder or thistle sock to dispense. Goldfinch will be happy to be fed American grown sunflower hearts or black oil sunflower in an ordinary feeder. Goldfinch and pine siskins can often come in large numbers and may overrun your sunflower feeder. They can be drawn away to a thistle sock to make room for the other birds at the tube feeder.

Bird food will attract squirrels and sometimes raccoons. Raccoons usually visit at night and are known to carry feeders away. Investing in a quality squirrel/raccoon baffle will save lots of money in the long run. Squirrels will still get plenty of food that is dropped by birds as they are feeding. It is best to not feed raccoons.

If you are unable to protect your feeder, try using only safflower seed. Most squirrels will not eat it, yet chickadees, titmice, and cardinals will.

If you decide to feed birds, you have a responsibility to keep the feeders clean and the seed fresh. You will need to clean feeders regularly during rainy spells. Be sure to purchase feeders that are easy to clean. We use hot soapy water to wash, then rinse with a mild water/bleach solution and then rinse again with water. We opt to have just one main feeder/tray set-up. The more feeders, the more time spent cleaning.

Do not forget that birds also need water. Provide clean water in a bird bath. Flush water out every three days to keep it clean and to eliminate mosquito larvae and disease organisms. The bowl should have gradually sloping sides and not be too deep. Birds enjoy splashing in shallow pools. Yesterday we had at least 15 robins vying for a spot in the bath. A large flock had descended into a holly tree to feast on its abundant berries and the birds quenched their thirst and bathed in our two bird baths.

If you have neighborhood cats, place feeders and baths high and in a relatively open area. Cats kill millions of songbirds every year, as well as other wildlife. Perhaps you can talk to your neighbors and encourage them to keep the cats indoors, where they will be safe from cars and coyotes.

Watching birds from the comfort of your home is a great way to get away from the television or computer. Birds are beautiful and their interactions with each other are fascinating. Try locating the feeder close to your window yet far enough away to prevent squirrels from leaping to it from the windowsill.

You will begin to observe seasonal changes at your feeder. Winter brings migrants from the far north. In North Florida and South Georgia feeders commonly attract a dozen species all year. In winter, five northern migrants may visit your feeder. Many more birds will use a bird bath. Pick a good viewing window, set up your feeding station, settle into a comfy chair with tea or coffee, and enjoy!