Most of us enjoy having blue jays at our feeders. They are certainly colorful, active, and aggressive birds. Sometimes, however, they dominate the backyard and keep smaller birds away. When jays can reach the main supply of seed, they become greedy and attempt to take away all the food we supply.

Watch the blue jay some time—it will pick up a sunflower seed and gulp it. The seed goes down a little way into the throat, where it is stored. The bird collects a lot of seeds this way, until its throat bulges. Then it flies away to dump the seeds in the hollow of a tree or in an opening in snow at the base of a bush. It then returns immediately for another raid, and soon all the seeds in the feeder have been removed. The jay takes away more than its share of seeds, and probably most are never retrieved and eaten.

I prefer that birds stay at my feeders to eat so that I can watch them. I therefore fix some of my feeders so that the jays cannot get at the seed.

Because it is larger than many other birds found at backyard feeders, the blue jay can be excluded from a feeder. If the feeder has a roof, holes can be bored into the edge of the roof and edge of the floor. Stiff wires can then be put through to make vertical bars. If these bars are 1-¼ inches apart, the blue jay will be unable to get between them. But all smaller birds, including evening grosbeaks, cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, and all members of the sparrow and finch family, will be able to get into the feeder. The jay can still reach through to pick up stray seeds, so that it will get all it really needs without being able to reach the main supply.

There are also feeders for small birds that utilize a different principle. These have an overhang above a perch. This overhang is close enough to the perch that a large bird bumps its head before it can get its feet on the perch. Bird stores and mail order companies carry several models of such feeders. Generally these commercial models are made of two clear plastic bowls, with the larger of the two hanging upside down as a roof over the smaller. The gap between the two bowls is not very large, and only a small bird can fly to the lower bowl to get food.

Sugar water is easy to make. Dissolve one part of white granulated cane sugar in four parts of hot water (¼ cup of sugar for every cup of water). Sugar dissolves better in boiling water than it does in cold tap water, and boiling may kill some of the mold spores that cause spoilage. Bring the solution to a boil and stir until sugar is dissolved. Allow the nectar to cool before using it. Excess sugar water can be stored in the refrigerator for about two weeks.

It is not necessary to add red coloring, protein, vitamins, or minerals. Natural nectar is clear and colorless. Red parts on the feeder will catch a hummer's attention. Change the feeder solution every three to four days to avoid mold.

Like most backyard bird watchers, I feel that keeping a supply of fresh water on hand is a year-round commitment. But in the summer months this commitment carries a few extra challenges. With a constant progression of birds taking baths, their splashing can deplete the water level in no time, and in 90-degree heat it doesn't take long for water temperatures to become quite uncomfortable, even in the shade.

During the heat wave last summer, I began replenishing my birdbaths with ice cubes. How time-consuming! It was then that I realized that my air conditioner, with its constant supply of cool water accumulating from the condensation coils, offered me a better solution.

This booklet is designed to introduce you to—and help you identify—many of the most common feeder birds in North America. For each species you will find a color photograph, notes about how to identify the species, a summary of its range and the times of year it is present, and general information about the food and the type of feeder it prefers. Did we mention it's only $4.99?

Here is a simple summer bird feeder that I first saw made by a group of teenagers at a church gathering. Friends who have tried this feeder design in their yards have responded enthusiastically. In my yard, orioles, tanagers, and other songbirds visit the feeder to nibble at the orange halves.

All that is needed is a short piece of dowel, a length of twine, string, or coated wire, and a piece of fruit. Sharpen one end of the dowel, pierce a piece of fruit (I prefer oranges), knot the ends of the string or wire around the dowel ends, and hang the feeder outside in a conspicuous place.