By LEO MALONEY
Outdoors Columnist

Throughout the day we enjoy the sight of beautiful crimson cardinals, azure blue jays and goldfinches or chickadees fluttering around the backyard. Usually they are just a few feet away, on the other side of our windows or the nearby birch trees. Many people in the area enjoy the same sights, if they provide the types of food birds need to sustain themselves in cold weather.

Surveys consistently show that bird watching, including feeding the birds in your yard, ranks among the most popular of outdoor-related activities. Especially popular in winter, bird feeders draw birds to food located close to windows or patios where birds can be seen and enjoyed.

There are many kinds of bird feeders and many kinds of foods that go into those feeders. In order to maximize the numbers and kinds of birds that are attracted to your backyard, it is best to place feeders in all the feeding niches: ground level, eye level, tree hanging and tree trunk. If you have many birds in your backyard, you will find it necessary to have several feeders to accommodate the different types of birds and the food they prefer.

Forest birds such as chickadees, titmice, finches, nuthatches and woodpeckers are used to clinging to limbs. Thus, tube and wooden feeders, as well as suet cages, work well for them.

Cardinals and blue jays usually live on the edges of forests or in mixed habitats and are used to feeding on the ground. They will frequent feeders both in the trees or on the ground. Juncos, sparrows and mourning doves often feed on the ground and will commonly visit food spread on the ground when it is not covered with snow.

Cardinals prefer sunflower seeds but will generally feed only at feeders that have flat footing for them. That means cardinals will eat from a tray feeder or a hopper feeder that has an edge wide enough for them to get good footing. Cardinals cannot hold on to small perches such as those used on most hanging feeders.

Black-capped chickadees, on the other hand, prefer to eat sunflower seeds from feeders with tiny perches. They will even hang upside-down on any kind of perch, wire or bag feeder. Woodpeckers eat suet from laminated cage-type feeders that hang on tree trunks.

Some other common birds attracted to feeders — and their preferred foods and niches — are: juncos (wild birdseed mix; ground level), goldfinches (hulled sunflower and nyger seed; tree hanging), blue jays (sunflower and peanuts; eye level), house finches (hulled sunflower and safflower; tree hanging), mourning doves (seed mix, hulled sunflower; ground level), and nuthatches or woodpeckers (sunflower and suet; eye level and tree trunk).

Birds also require cover where they can hide from predators, like hawks, and find protection from the elements. If your backyard is near cover or has adequate trees and shrubs, then you will probably get a lot of birds. But if it is relatively open you can temporarily create cover by gathering some Christmas trees that will be discarded this weekend.

You can tie tops of trees together to create a tepee-like shelter that will protect ground-feeding birds. However, you need to be careful that these do not provide shelter for the neighbor’s cat to go dining al fresco.

A metal stake driven into the ground will support a discarded Christmas tree and create inviting cover near your feeders. Put up several to attract the birds and create a windbreak for your feeder.

Many people have a problem with nuisance squirrels eating much of the seed or driving birds away. There are baffles and other devices, but most squirrels are incredibly resourceful in foiling these attempts to keep them away. Another alternative is to get corn on the cob and secure this at different places where the squirrels can feed conveniently. This often keeps the furry little pests busy and they will be less likely to hit the bird feeders.

If you intend to develop a bird feeding station now is the time to start it, if you haven’t already done so. In addition to the recent snow cover, many of the natural feeds have been depleted so birds will be attracted to a site where there is food and cover. It is also important to continue the feeding program until spring because many of the birds will become dependent on a regular food supply.

Short Casts

New York Sportsman’s Expo: The NY Sportsman’s Expo returns to the State Fairgrounds on January 25-27 with double the size of last year’s successful show. The commitment of Wight-Ox productions to a pure outdoor show has paid off with an increased lineup of vendors and exhibitors. There will be a full schedule of seminars, exhibits to appeal to every type of outdoorsmen and special attractions such as the Realtree Reunion of TV personalities, calling contests, casting pools, and the popular dock dogs. Check out www.newyorksportsmansexpo.com for more details.

Snowmobile app: Oswego County has a new, free trail app available for Android phones and iPhones. The interactive web map makes it easy to map your trip, zoom in on a trail section and locate lodging and dining establishments, dealers and much more.

Fishing report: The recent cold weather and snow has hampered steelhead fishing. Most days there has been slush ice on the lower Salmon River and the drop in temperature has slowed the action. Most anglers have been taking fish later in the day in the deep pools between Pineville and Altmar.

Ice fishing is non-existent at this time since there is no safe ice on traditionally popular spots like Oneida Lake or Sandy Pond. Even though there are colder temperatures in the forecast, the snow on top of the thin ice will slow the formation of thicker ice. Be safe and stay away. Check FishNY.com for ice conditions and fishing reports when safe ice starts to form.

The Wild Life: The Old Forge area has lots of snow and is bustling with activity for snowmobiling, downhill skiing, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. But there is another activity for outdoorsmen or anyone who appreciates art. The View art center is hosting a Wild Life Exhibition of painting, sculpture and photography. Among the nationally known photographers on display will be Eric Dresser, Jeannette Fournier, Bob Ripley and J.C. Parker. Also, from now through April 28 will be the photography of Don Andrews. Concurrently the Artventures of Tom Yacovella will show his creative sculptures, paintings and other prize winning art of the outdoor world through January 13 . January 19 through February 24 will feature the paintings of Michael Ringer. Call 369-6411 or see www.ViewArts.org for more information.

Outdoor show trip: Again this year the Fayetteville Rod and Gun club will sponsor a bus trip to Harrisburg, Pa. to visit the giant Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show on February 9. The bus will leave Fayetteville Mall at 5 a.m. and return at 10 p.m. The trip costs $60 and includes bus, refreshments and a ticket to the show. Make reservations with Bruce Berean at 439-0260.

CNY Sportsmans Show: Save the date of February 2 for the always popular Central New York Sportsmans Show. There will be a mix of tackle vendors, conservation groups, guides and exhibitors. You will have the chance to meet and talk with expert deer and turkey hunters like Jim Massett and Shawn Fox, in addition to well-known anglers like Jay Peck. The new lineup of attractions and seminars will be publicized in the next few weeks.