Aside from actually attracting the birds we want to the feeder, the biggest problem that backyard birders run into is the need to keep squirrels out of the feeder. There are quite a number of designs for squirrel proof feeders, some are real monuments to engineering. Of course some folks have just as much luck with natural deterents like pepper suet, but that's not nearly as much fun as some of the Droll Yankees squirrel proof feeders. Here's a look at the different types of squirrel proof feeders.

There's a wide variety of decorative bird feeders available, but it seems the most popular type is the gazebo bird feeder. Here's a look at the history of gazebos, and their popularity in the US.

One popular do it yourself project for many backyard birders is to make a simple wooden bird feeder. You can either use a simple bird feeder kit to start, or there are other plans to make one from scratch. Here's a simple set of plans to make your own bird feeder.