Find an area a few feet away from protective cover.

Birds use dense tangles of shrubbery or trees as places to hide from predators. If your yard has no cover, create some by planting shrubs or small trees. If you live where the ground is already frozen, make a brush pile of old tree limbs.

Look for a sunny, calm location.

The east or south side of your house will probably offer the most protection from cold, northerly winds. If you have no sheltered areas, consider putting up a fence or hedgerow. Also, the brighter the location is, the easier it will be for you to see and identify your feathered guests.

Guard against squirrels and cats.

Squirrels can jump as much as 10 feet from the nearest leaping-off point, so set up your feeding station with this in mind. If cats roam in or near your yard, be sure your feeders are several feet away from any potential cat hiding places.

Clean your feeders.

We highly recommend you clean your feeders at least once during the season (hummingbird feeders, once per week). Take them down and dump out any remaining contents. Scrub them with soap and water, then dip them into a solution that's one part bleach and nine parts water. Rinse the feeder well and make sure it is thoroughly dry before refilling. Keeping your feeders clean will help protect them against disease-carrying microbes. Also, rake up seed hulls from your yard in the spring; decomposing hulls can kill your grass and spread disease to feeder birds.

Convenience is important.

Remember, you'll need to refill your bird feeders, especially since we hope you'll continue to feed the birds long after the count! Make sure you put up your feeders in a location that's convenient for you to attend to.