Thistle Bird Feeder Q&A: Trying to get started cheaply in bird feeders?

Question by baron_von_party: Trying to get started cheaply in bird feeders?
I bought some seed and just used a pie pan with a fist-sized rock in it to keep the pan from blowing away. My wife did hear a little chirping/singing whatever outside (I put it on the step to our deck). But it’s a pain because if it rains or snows I have to bring it in to keep it from getting soaked.
Today I bought a metal tube with holes in it you fill with seed, so I filled that tonight and hung it on a hook we use for a wind chime in the summer.
We don’t seem to have a whole lot of birds around here, but was hoping to attract them just to watch and listen. Doesn’t matter much what kind really. Squirrels aren’t a problem here either, or other wildlife, just the occasional rabbit.
The seed i bought is safflower. I heard the mixes aren’t a really good idea. If I could pick out a particular bird we’d want it would be cardinals, I have seen a few of these around, or just anything with color would be fine. Any advice would be appreciated. We’d rather stay away from pole mounts.
Thanks for the replies: Follow up question; is it true birds actually can “use” the feeders more in the summer than in the winter??? I would think surviving the winter would be harder….

Best answer:

Answer by cheezy
my kids used to make bird feeders from empty milk cartons & hang them in the trees.

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Tags:bird, cheaply, feeder, Feeders, started, Thistle, trying