When shopping for feeders, look for styles with wire cages to keep out squirrels and large unwanted birds. Feeders need to be kept clean, so check styles to see how easily old seed can be cleaned out of them. Rainy and humid weather dampens seed, causing it to sprout, clump and mold. You'll also find seeds attract and deter certain critters. Squirrels, grackles and black birds do not particularly like safflower seed, but cardinals and other songbirds do.
Most birds love to drink and frolic in shallow pools of water.
Having learned that the hard way, I turned my deep-bowl bird bath into a planter for trailing tendrils of ivy. For shallow bowls of water, I use large round plastic saucers sold separately where planters are found in garden centers and a plastic hanging bird bath from a nature store. The plastic is easy to keep clean. Next, I want to add a mister to my bird reserve. Now that my feeders are stocked with assorted seeds and the water bowl are kept filled, I marvel at how many different birds serenade my husband and I each evening.