Getting the attention of birds of varied species is actually a fun and a relaxing way to spend time with your whole family right in your own backyard. Everything basically starts by providing the right bird feeding environment.

And the only way to do that is by having plenty of wild bird food in an appropriate feeder. Choosing the right bird feeder for your yard starts by understanding the species that are indigenous to your area, as well as those that you wish to attract. So how do you choose the most ideal bird feeder?

The first thing to do is to learn more about the varied types of feeders. In general, the various species of birds can use any one of the four varieties of feeders, which are the hopper bird feeders, tube feeders, tray feeders, and the suet bird feeders.

The most common of them are the hopper feeders and typically they look like a gazebo or a barn. On the other hand, a tube feeder is cylindrical in shape and is designed with a number of perches, with tiny holes in the tube for feeding.

Tray feeders, also called platform feeders or ground feeders, can provide you with an unobstructed view of birds since you can place these feeders close to the ground. These types of feeders generally have an open design.

Suet feeders are made from wires and hold suet cakes. Aside from these four common types, there is also the Hummingbird feeder, which will attract this incredibly unique bird for your viewing pleasure.

Once you understood the major types of bird feeders, you can then decide which wild birds you want to attract. Generally, birds of different species may need different types of birdseed. For smaller birds, like Chickadees or Nuthatches, tube feeders are the most ideal.

Platform or ground feeders are ideal for larger species. It is also important to consider providing your flighty friends with protection from predators, such as birds of prey and cats, or from food thieves, such as squirrels. For squirrel proof bird feeders, you can go for the tube or suet feeders, since these are the types of feeders that squirrels have a hard time raiding.

Birds of different species, in general, will accept any bird seed. Also, your bird feeders should always be kept clean; otherwise, dirt, mold and bacteria might develop on the feeder and might be hazardous to the birds.

There are some considerations you need to think about when it comes to caring for migratory birds. The most important of it all is to have the proper feeder and lots of food, especially through the long, cold winter months.