Backyard birdwatching has got to be one of the most calming and interesting hobbies anyone can have. You'll be amazed at the variety of birds that will visit your yard, if you put out bird feeders and water. There's a selection of Perky Pet Bird Feeders which will help you attract hummingbirds and lots of other birds as well. Of couse it doesn't hurt to plant some bushes, plants and flowers that they also enjoy.

I keep a journal in which I log the different bird visitors that I get in my yard. It is so much fun to identify them and learn their migratory routes. I never would have thought that I would be one of "those" people with binoculars keenly watching the movements of tiny birds. But I am.

We had a rare ivory gull visit about 20 miles north of Cape Cod last winter, and yes I was one of the nearly 50 people that turned out one early very cold morning to quiety watch her (or him?) fly from mooring to mooring in the harbor.

And don't forget that birds need water. If it's winter time and the water has all frozen birds can become dehydrated. So I always put out a big flat bowl in the center of the yard when it's cold. You wouldn't believe the birds that flock to it.

The Perky Pet 102 Easy Feeder holds 4 pounds of birdseed in a specially designed cartridge for easy cleaning and refilling. The wire barrier keeps out the squirrels. You can hang it on a pole. Or do what I do, just hang it from a tree limb. It should be cleaned in hot soapy water when you refill it. Quite frankly when I'm handling this I do wear disposable plastic gloves that medical professionals use. While birds are adorable you should be aware of the disease that they carry. As well as all of the other animals that love to go near backyard birdfeeders.

I love to listen to orioles sing, so I invested in a Perky Pet #251 36OZ Oriole Feeder, to try to get as many as I can into the yard. The orange color is supposed to attract them. I've seen a few but not that many. This spring I'm also going to try planting some orange colored flowers nearby to create a little oriole oasis. We'll see. But luckily, orioles aren't the only birds that enjoy the color orange, so it seems that some bird is always stopping by to say hello. Luckily backyard bird feeders are pretty cheap, so you can have a great variety.

he Perky Pet 110 Evenseed Silo Feeder holds 3 pounds of birdseed and has a total of 12 feeding stations. There is a seed collector tray that minimized wasted birdseed. Although I've found if it falls to the ground, the birds hop down and get it. Although so do the squirrels, rats and other creatures of the backyard. The feeding tube is divided into 3 different channels so it's like having 3 backyard birdfeeders in one.

The Perky Pet #260P Strawberry Feeder is a great gift idea for a birdwatcher who loves hummingbirds. (It's very affordable too!) It's bright and cheerful design will left moods on a dreary day, as will the tiny visitors who stop by. It is very easy to fill and clean. It's base has 3 feeding stations. A good companion feeder would also be the Perky Pet Apple Hummingbird feeder. Both of these hummingbirdfeeders hold 48 ounces.

The Perky Pet 398 Patented Deluxe Upside Down Thistle Feeder is designed to attract goldfinches, which can easily eat upside down - and discourage house finches and larger birds that can't. It holds about 2 pounds of thistle seed or finch mix. It also has squirrel-resistant caps, bails, and perches. It has a weather-resistant, 18-inch feeding tube. The feeder will empty completely leaving no residue.

It's fun to watch the little birds darting around it. They really seem to enjoy hanging upside down!

I often will give older people backyard bird feeders as gifts. I make a little gift basket with some birdseed and an identification book of local birds. It's even better if they have a window birdfeeder, because it's often easier for them to see the birds. They love calling me up and telling me which birds have visited. It gives them something different to talk about and a new interest.

Even if you have an older friend or parent in a nursing home, the administrators will often allow a birdfeeder outside the window. It's amazing how much fun and interest this can bring into someone's life.

And don't forget small children. I have friends who can't make the committment to have a dog or cat because of their schedules. A backyard birdfeeder allows the children to interact with wildlife. Maintaining the birdfeeder gives them a sense of responsibility that they might else have gotten with a traditional family pet.