I keep it simple here because I have hundreds of house sparrows, 10 squirrels and a only a few other guests. I put out sunflower seeds, on the ground and 1 platform feeder for those few guests although most does get hogged by the HOSPs and squirrels. In the winter Cardinal activity picks up quite a bit though and I go from summer of 1 or 2 pairs to up to 20 which is nice. In the past I tried suet feeders in winter but in addition to the HOSPs hanging all over them it brings in the Starlings, what a ruckus! I decided to just try again with two feeders close to the windows. I throw things at the windows when I hear the Starlings fighting. I'm so glad I tried again, when they can find a break btw HOSPs and Starlings I get the unsurprising Red Bellied, a Downey but also 2 Carolina Wrens yesterday! Two weeks ago I had a Ruby Crowned Kinglet which was exciting but I didn't think I'd see it again, went to FL for a week came back yesterday and saw it! New yard bird for me. Marie, Fairborn OH (near Dayton) ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]