Birders on a budget fear not! Here are a few easy and economic tips to keep your birds and you wallet happy this winter.

-Try making your own suet feeder. A few sturdy pinecones and a good smear of peanut butter and some rope make squirrels and birds happy.

-Roosting pockets are a great inexpensive way to offer shelter through the harsh winter months. Buy a bunch of them and scatter around your yard in tree branches and nail some to trees. Don’t forget a shepherd hook or two would work just a well.

-Buy in bulk. If you don’t use all the food it can be stored in freezer come spring time.

-Protect your investment. Buy metal or heavy duty plastic containers with lids to keep your seed in. Even the best seed will be ruined if it gets wet.

Birding need not be an expensive hobby to be fulfilling and with a little creativity you can make a little go a long way.