"Feeders and Fountains" Food and Water are two of the greatest attractions you can provide for your feathered friends. The third is a Habitat where they can build nests and elude predators. Feeding your Song Birds can be as simple as tossing food on the ground or on a concrete sidewalk or patio. A better location would be under an overhanging Bush or Shrub, or under a Picnic Table. Most Song Birds prefer such shelter from predators. Some Song Birds actually prefer to feed on the ground as opposed to an elevated location. True Sparrows and Brown Thrashers belong to this group. They love to scratch in the underlying debris. But most Song Birds can be lured to your favorite location visible from a convenient  window. Try to locate Feeders and Baths near shrubbery which creates an escape path from predators. A Milk Jug makes a serviceable Feeder. They can be hung by the handles. Sunshine will make them brittle after a few months, but free replacements makes for an attractive price. Using four dedicated Feeders to hold Sunflower Seeds, Millet, Thistle Seed and Calcium will help prevent waste by Song Birds scratching for a favorite treat. Titmice are especially guilty of this action, which is often done in search of Sunflower Seeds in a Seed Mixture. Mixtures usually cost less per pound, but contain lots of filler which goes to waste. Some Birds and species are prone to Hoarding. They will remove Seeds from Feeders and stash them under Tree Bark or other crevice for later consumption. It is questionable whether they remember these many various locations. Save 75% on Sunflower Seeds HERE. Squirrels are a determined nuisance. A wire cage made of mesh that admits Song birds but not Squirrels, makes servicing more difficult. But it's fun watching Squirrels trying to figure this thing out. Some "Squirrel Proof" Feeders are designed to lower a door over the Seeds with the weight of a Squirrel on the Feeder. But even some of these designs have succumbed to the Squirrel's relentless determination. Suet Feeders may be even more varied than Seed Feeders. They include Pine cones spread with Peanut Butter or Suet; small Tree Limbs with holes drilled for Suet; half-gallon Milk Jugs with flaps cut in the sides and 1" of melted Suet poured into the bottom. Of course, the wire mesh holders with matching Suet Cakes can be found wherever Bird Seed is sold. These can be fitted with roofs to protect the suet from Sunshine and weather. Suet can be made from Beef Tallow with Seeds, Nuts, and Berries. Any bird which eats insects should relish Suet. In winter many Insect-eating Song birds turn to Wild Fruit and Berries for nourishment. If you make suet, you may want to add some Berries to it. Salt Feeders are not very common, but some species seem attracted to Salt even more than to Seeds or Suet.  Purple Finches and House Finches are notable examples. A Salt Feeder is shown to the left.