And, come on, you can give a couple of vegetables to others. A variety of songbirds can be attracted by planting a diversity of plants. Remember, they're seeking insects, fruit and flowers. Also, use plants that provide alternate layers of foliage for protective cover and nesting sites. Shrubbery, vines, tangled thickets and dead trees with holes facing away from the sun and cold winds are important to many birds.
Sunflowers are easy to grow and rewarding.
The dried seed heads of cosmos are also loved by goldfinches. Good food plants have small succulent leaves or blossoms, an abundance of seeds or fruit and attract an array of insects. Chickweed, dandelions and goldenrod are excellent. Watch what the birds are eating or nesting in, and allow those plants to flourish. Hummingbirds like small flying insects and nectar from lupines, larkspur, columbine, jasmine, monkey flower, pentstemons, salivas, trumpet vine, acacia, aloe, manzanita, ceanothus and toyon.