The holiday season is upon us with family and friends flocking home for the holidays. Birds too may be flocking to your backyard if you have a well supplied bird feeder. For many people these wild visitors are welcomed guests, much like relatives for a holiday party.

Natural resource sociologists have found that people benefit from wildlife in their lives. Wildlife help people feel connected to nature. In the hectic world we live in, seeing animals, even in our backyard, is a natural gift we receive all year long.

If you don't have a bird feeding station in your backyard, but are planning to begin this popular hobby, a little planning and consideration of bird feeding habits can make your backyard habitat complete. Obviously the bird feeder should be placed in the yard where it can be viewed from a convenient location indoors.

Considering the bird's needs, the feeder should be placed in a location that is protected from winter winds. Feeders on poles or suspended, should be 5 to 6 feet from the ground. Some birds feed on the ground, so a ground platform will meet their needs.

Remember learning about food chains in school? Predators will also be attracted to your bird feeders, but for a different menu item. So, feeders should be located within 5 feet of some type of cover such as trees or shrubs for escape from predators and for loafing.

If a hawk begins targeting your feeder, keep two things in mind. First, they are protected by state and federal laws and it is just part of the natural cycle of life. Secondly, the escape cover in your yard will provide protection for most of the birds visiting your feeder. If this situation is especially troublesome, simply remove the feeder from your yard for a few days and the hawk will likely move on to greener pastures.

Some people feed birds year round, while others only during the winter when food is scarce. Whatever time frame you choose, it is important to provide birds with a healthy, safe and dependable supply of food. Birds become dependent on your food source in the winter especially when local food sources become covered with snow or ice. It is during these weather conditions that birds will benefit the most from your feeder.

Another important consideration is the type of food you put in your bird feeder. The inexpensive birdseed mixes contain seeds, such as milo, wheat, oats and rice, which are unattractive to most birds. A mixture of white proso millet and black oil-type sunflower seed will give you the most for your bird-feeding dollar, because these seed types are preferred by many types of birds, and you won't be paying for waste seed.

Keep in mind that a feeding station in an urban area may use 50 pounds of seed or more during the winter months. A feeding station in a rural setting will likely use even more seed, possibly as much as 300 - 500 pounds.

Some people also complain about starlings, pigeons and house sparrows chasing away songbirds at their feeders. One of the best ways to keep these types of birds out of your feeder is to use a birdseed mix lacking cracked corn or only feed sunflower seed. In addition, do not place breadcrumbs or food scraps in your feeding station, as this will attract starlings and house sparrows.

You should also keep your bird feeder clean. Once a week remove moldy seed and fecal matter and in the warmer months, disinfect your feeder at cleaning time with a weak bleach solution. Finally, if you want a complete backyard environment, add a heated water feature. During the cold winter months, birds benefit from open water for drinking and bathing.

Bird feeding can be an enjoyable recreation experience for the whole family. If you have questions about bird feeding or need additional information, contact the University of Illinois Champaign County Extension Unit office at 333-7672.