For buying a feeder for a friend, you can't go wrong with one from Aspects or Droll Yankee. Both brands are made in the United States, and their feeders have a lifetime guarantee. You will not find these feeders in big box stores, as they both support the local retailers that knowyour local birds best.

Their hummingbird and oriole feeders have the best design with the nectar in a bowl under the feeder ports, so they don't have bee, wasp or ant problems. The wide bowl is easy to clean and fill.

Easy cleaning may be the most important feature to look for in a bird feeder. If it isn't easy to clean, it won't get done, and then the feeder clogs up and turns moldy. Their tube feeders have a base that quickly snaps off. I prefer the larger diameter feeders, since they stay fuller longer. A full feeder is good for the birds and easier for me. The larger diameter feeder tube allows for a wider perch instead of the simple stick coming out the side. The wide perch gives cardinals and grosbeaks more room to sit. The only problem with a wide perch is if there are grackles or other pest black birds around — in that case, the short and straight perches are better.

Droll Yankee has several feeders with perches that spin or snap out of the way if a squirrel tries to eat at the feeder.

If your friends already have some feeders, try one of the window- mounted feeders to bring the birds closer. Windows are a problem for birds when they think the window doesn't exist. A feeder on the window trains them to slow down instead of flying through the glass.

The best bird seed you can get is from Coles. First, they screen it more thoroughly thanmost other bird-seed companies. This means fewer sticks and stones in the feeder for you to clean out. The best thing is probably that they fill their special bird-seed bags with nitrogen gas.Without oxygen, the bird seed won't get moldy and no insects can live in the bag.

They have a wide variety of straight and mixed seeds and suets. If the feeders attract squirrels that you don't want to feed, thenColes has just the product for you. Try using the Flaming Squirrel Seed Sauce. It is a liquid pepper that youmix into the seed bag. Unlike a chili powder, It won't blow back into your face when you open the bag or fill a feeder. Birds don't have the taste buds for the hotness that mammals do, so they will not even notice.

E-mail questions to Jeff Rugg at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .