Attracting backyard birds as it gets colder is simply a matter of matching desirable birds to specific foods and feeders.

The single food that attracts the greatest variety of seed-eating birds is sunflower seed. Black-oil sunflower seed is most appealing because it has high oil [energy] content, and its shells are thin and easy to crack. Virtually every seed-eating bird eats black-oil seeds.

Striped sunflower seed also is great, but its heavier shell makes it more difficult to crack for smaller birds. It's a favorite of cardinals, grosbeaks and blue jays. Sunflower seeds are best offered in tube and platform feeders.

Hulled sunflower seeds are more expensive because the hulls have been mechanically removed. But there is no mess and no waste; every ounce of the kernels is eaten. The hulls of in-shell sunflower seeds make up as much as 45 percent of the weight of product, so there's a good bit of waste. Despite the higher price, I think sunflower kernels are the best value in bird food. But because the hulls have been removed, they must be kept dry.

Nyjer, the tiny black seeds often incorrectly called "thistle," attract goldfinches, house finches, pine siskins and purple finches. Because nyjer is imported from Africa and Southeast Asia, it's more expensive than sunflower seed, but its high oil content makes it great winter food.

Nuts are another more expensive bird food, but their appeal to species such as chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and woodpeckers justifies the expense. Peanuts, walnuts and almonds are the more familiar nuts that are now commonly found in better quality nut mixes.

White millet is a great seed for ground feeders such as song sparrows, white-throated sparrows and juncos. But don't put millet in elevated tube or bowl-style feeders. Birds that use these feeders such as woodpeckers and chickadees rarely eat millet.

Also, read the ingredient labels found on seed mixes. Don't buy any mixes that include milo or cereal grains such as wheat and oats. These are filler seeds that birds rarely eat.

Finally, suet is a favorite of woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches. Best offered in plastic-coated wire baskets, suet is high-energy animal fat. It is available commercially in blocks, or you can make your own.

We feed birds because we enjoy watching them. Matching favorite birds with their favorite foods and feeders is the best way to ensure an enjoyable fall and winter feeding season. Here's a brief guide to a few of the most basic feeders.

Platform feeders: A platform or tray feeder can be as simple as a stump in the back yard or as elaborate as an expensive roofed fly-through feeder. Platform feeders are completely non-exclusive -- all birds can use them. Consequently pigeons, doves, blue jays and squirrels sometimes dominate them.

Attracting backyard birds as it gets colder is simply a matter of matching desirable birds to specific foods and feeders.

The single food that attracts the greatest variety of seed-eating birds is sunflower seed. Black-oil sunflower seed is most appealing because it has high oil [energy] content, and its shells are thin and easy to crack. Virtually every seed-eating bird eats black-oil seeds.

Striped sunflower seed also is great, but its heavier shell makes it more difficult to crack for smaller birds. It's a favorite of cardinals, grosbeaks and blue jays. Sunflower seeds are best offered in tube and platform feeders.

Hulled sunflower seeds are more expensive because the hulls have been mechanically removed. But there is no mess and no waste; every ounce of the kernels is eaten. The hulls of in-shell sunflower seeds make up as much as 45 percent of the weight of product, so there's a good bit of waste. Despite the higher price, I think sunflower kernels are the best value in bird food. But because the hulls have been removed, they must be kept dry.

Nyjer, the tiny black seeds often incorrectly called "thistle," attract goldfinches, house finches, pine siskins and purple finches. Because nyjer is imported from Africa and Southeast Asia, it's more expensive than sunflower seed, but its high oil content makes it great winter food.

Nuts are another more expensive bird food, but their appeal to species such as chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and woodpeckers justifies the expense. Peanuts, walnuts and almonds are the more familiar nuts that are now commonly found in better quality nut mixes.

White millet is a great seed for ground feeders such as song sparrows, white-throated sparrows and juncos. But don't put millet in elevated tube or bowl-style feeders. Birds that use these feeders such as woodpeckers and chickadees rarely eat millet.

Also, read the ingredient labels found on seed mixes. Don't buy any mixes that include milo or cereal grains such as wheat and oats. These are filler seeds that birds rarely eat.

Finally, suet is a favorite of woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches. Best offered in plastic-coated wire baskets, suet is high-energy animal fat. It is available commercially in blocks, or you can make your own.

We feed birds because we enjoy watching them. Matching favorite birds with their favorite foods and feeders is the best way to ensure an enjoyable fall and winter feeding season. Here's a brief guide to a few of the most basic feeders.

Platform feeders: A platform or tray feeder can be as simple as a stump in the back yard or as elaborate as an expensive roofed fly-through feeder. Platform feeders are completely non-exclusive -- all birds can use them. Consequently pigeons, doves, blue jays and squirrels sometimes dominate them.

Hopper feeders: Many excellent hopper feeders are offered by a variety of manufacturers. Base your selection on appearance and the quality of construction. Though most hopper feeders are made of wood and eventually disintegrate or succumb to squirrel damage, I prefer those made from 100 percent recycled plastic. The plastic boards simulate wood and weather extremely well.

Tube feeders: Tube feeders come in a variety of sizes and can dispense either sunflower or nyjer seeds, depending on port size. Tubes typically accommodate only birds small enough to use their perches. To invite large birds such as cardinals and jays to a tube, attach an optional seed tray to the bottom of the tube. The best tube feeders now come with a removable base to make cleaning easy. And simple stainless steel wire mesh tubes are great for offering nuts to woodpeckers and nyjer to finches.

Bowl feeders: Bowl feeders hang beneath a squirrel baffle and lack perches. Consequently only smaller, acrobatic birds with strong clinging feet can use them. Fill bowls with peanuts, sunflower kernels and other nuts to attract woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and finches.

Window feeders: Feeders that attach directly to a windowpane with suction cups are great for kids and anyone who is housebound.

 n Suet baskets: Plastic-coated wire suet baskets are inexpensive and durable, and no back yard should be without one. Chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers and creepers are among backyard suet lovers.

Send questions/comments to Dr. Scott Shalaway, R.D. 5, Cameron, West Virginia 26033 or sshala...@aol.com.