 Hi, I'm Wesley Anderson, wildlife specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. These days, many people are more disconnected from nature than they've ever been. Backyard bird feeding is a fantastic way to solve this problem. Instead of going out into nature, we're bringing nature and wildlife to our backyards. Alabama boasts a variety of bird species, making backyard bird feeding a popular activity in the state. Birds include those migrating to warmer climates during the winter, as well as those that make Alabama home year-round. To try bird feeding at your home, place feeders in readily visible areas. Feeders near shrubs and trees have the most visitors. Offer birds food, shelter, nest boxes and water to ensure that they visit your yard year-round. Birds attracted to your yard change with the seasons. Make your feeders and foods suitable for each season's group of birds. Use a basic tubular feeder filled with black oil sunflower seeds to start attracting large numbers of birds. Try mixtures of sunflowers and whole peanuts and platform and hopper feeders to entice more species. Also offer fruits, mealworms and nectar. Incorporating suet feeders in the winter months will attract species of birds that normally eat insects. Keep the birds safe. Situate feeders within three feet or over 30 feet from windows to avoid collisions. Remove hiding places for cats and keep feeders debris-free and filled only with seeds. Learn more about the birds you attract by using helpful tools such as a backyard bird guide and binoculars. Have you caught the birding itch? Alabama's birding trails include 280 sites across the state. So grab your birding gear, get outside and explore.