In 1991, Americans spent $5.2 billion on goods and services related to bird feeding and watching. Yes, I said billion. Undoubtedly, this dollar amount has steadily increased over the years. For millions of people, feeding birds has evolved from a simple task to a hobby to a passion. The popularity of feeding wild birds has grown so rapidly that specialty stores dealing specifically with bird feeding have opened all over the United States. These specialty stores cater directly to the bird feeding hobbyist and carry all types and sizes of feeders, nest boxes, and seed. With such an increased interest in feeding birds, our program has received numerous requests for information on how to attract and feed birds. This guide was published to do just that-provide good information on how to start feeding wild birds. The following pages will assist you in selecting the proper feeder, type of seed, and where to place feeders in your yard. Remember, our feeding guide is not meant to be the "Bible of Bird Feeding". Eventually, you may learn tips and tricks from your neighbors or friends that may be better than the advice offered in this guide. Great! The more success you have at feeding birds, the more you will enjoy your hobby. We feel this publication will get you started down the right path and will make your bird feeding rewarding and successful. Also included is a removable colored bird identification poster that will help beginning bird watchers identify birds that visit backyard bird feeders in North Dakota. However, there will be times when a bird that is not depicted on the poster visits your backyard. For this reason, we highly recommend you invest in a good field guide such as The National Geographic Society's "Field Guide to the Birds of North America". This field guide can be purchased at any major bookstore and is well worth the investment. Good Luck!