Attach a small or medium-sized tube or vial to a tree twig or a stem of a flower. Decorate the vial with bright ribbon and place a mixture of one part sugar to two parts water in the container. Watch the birds hover and sip the nectar. It may also attract moths, butterflies, and other insects. If you are interested in learning to recognize different kinds of birds and understand their habits, check local libraries and bookstores for the numerous guides to bird watching.
Summer is the best time to watch nesting, hatching, feeding the young, and hunting for insects.
Fall is best for watching migration, flocking, and molting. Winter is best for watching the hardy birds struggle to survive and to watch feather changes. Spring is best for watching migration, courting and mating, nest building, and spring molting. You have the best chance to hear the songs in early morning or late evening. Write down what you see in a notebook.