Birds are a wonder to watch from any window, but if you aren’t providing the essentials, there won’t be any birds to watch. There are three things you can do to attract these winged creatures.

Providing a food source is the first step in attracting birds. You can buy a bird feeder or you can make your own out of scrap materials. Feeders don’t need to be extravagant, but they do need to be accessible to the birds. There are 4 basic types of feeders: Hummingbird, platform, hanging, and suet.
For Hummingbirds, choose a feeder with red on it; this will be enough to attract the Hummingbirds. The solution for nectar is 1 part sugar, 4 parts water. Bring water to a boil, remove from heat. Add sugar; stir until all the sugar is dissolved. Do not use food colorings; it is not healthy for the birds.  Platform feeders are stations set up for birds that scavenge around on the ground for seeds and other bits of food. Hanging feeders are for perching birds. Sunflower seeds and chips, thistle or nyjer, safflower, dried fruits and nuts are all wonderful items to put into hanging feeders. Suet feeders are a great choice for the insect eaters. An easy to make suet recipe consists of crunchy peanut butter, grape jelly, lard, a variety of seeds and cornmeal. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, and then spoon the suet into your feeder. A small log with 2 inch holes and a hook for hanging or pine cones would work well.

Different birds enjoy different foods. Some of the types of food and corresponding birds are listed below: — Sunflower seeds, sunflower kernels, cracked corn, dried and fresh fruits, such as orange halves, raisins, cut up apples, currants and other berries, flower seeds, chopped nuts, safflower, peanut butter, bread crumbs and thistle.