Bird watching is an amateur sport of many. We trudge out in the snow to see the chickadees, call the neighbours when there's a bluebird in the yard and sprinkle seed out for the magpies even though they're loud and scare our pets. At some point in everyone's life it's very likely that one or two bird feeders will be purchased so that we can pursue our odd obsession. But it's tough to know just which bird feeders to buy. Hanging, tree-attached, free-standing? There is a lot of choice out there.

It's a good idea to decide which sort of birds you want to attract to your yard, and think about which ones are already habitual visitors. All birds have different tastes and styles, and will respond to bird feeders and seeds in different ways. While your chickadees might enjoy smaller seeds and a bird feeder surrounded by bushes, cardinals will be happier with safflower and aren't picky about tree cover. They're just as picky as us, so it's best to know a little about the birds you want to meet before choosing seed and bird feeders!

The best way to discover about the birds in your garden is not to surf the net, but get down to your local library or bookshop and buy a book. Get one with color photographs if you can. You'll also learn about their nesting and rearing habits, which can become a hobby in itself.

While most small birds are partial to sunflower seeds, you are likely to find that an abundance of them in your yard (scattered across the ground by messy birds) will attract other sorts of wildlife as well. Squirrels, raccoons and the odd rabbit might come ambling by to sample the free food, and you'll be well on your way to owning a full-fledged menagerie. But what's wrong with that? You always did like a little bird-watching, and now you've got the whole zoo to yourself.