Trying to get started cheaply in bird feeders?

Question

I bought some seed and just used a pie pan with a fist-sized rock in it to keep the pan from blowing away. My wife did hear a little chirping/singing whatever outside (I put it on the step to our deck). But it's a pain because if it rains or snows I have to bring it in to keep it from getting soaked.
Today I bought a metal tube with holes in it you fill with seed, so I filled that tonight and hung it on a hook we use for a wind chime in the summer.
We don't seem to have a whole lot of birds around here, but was hoping to attract them just to watch and listen. Doesn't matter much what kind really. Squirrels aren't a problem here either, or other wildlife, just the occasional rabbit.
The seed i bought is safflower. I heard the mixes aren't a really good idea. If I could pick out a particular bird we'd want it would be cardinals, I have seen a few of these around, or just anything with color would be fine. Any advice would be appreciated. We'd rather stay away from pole mounts.

Thanks for the replies: Follow up question; is it true birds actually can "use" the feeders more in the summer than in the winter??? I would think surviving the winter would be harder....

Answer 1

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The metal tube will probably work eventually. It takes awhile for birds to find anew feeder. I don't know if the metal would be a problem......usually I have some clear plastic tube so othey can see it, a tray so they can throw it around (or so it seems) or a thistle bag. Don't forget to have open water for them to drink!

Here's some help:

With black-oil sunflower seed - goldfinches, woodpeckers, titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, redpolls, pine siskins, cardinals, crossbills, white-throated sparrow, white-crowned sparrows, jays, purple finches, house finches
With safflower seed - chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, finches, cardinals, grosbeaks
With mixed seed - doves, Carolina wrens, thrashers, cardinals, sparrows, juncos, goldfinches, woodpeckers, titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, white-throated sparrows, white crowned sparrows, jays, purple finches

Answer 2

Every spring and winter we collect pine cones, coat them in a little peanut butter, and then roll them in a pie pan filled with bird seed. We hang them in the same trees every time because the birds are smart enough to remember where to look for them again and again. We also use 2 liter soda bottles that are turned upside down and attached to pie pans.

The time of year to put out your feeders really depends on what type of climate you live in and what type of migratory pattern you notice during the year. There are times when our entire front yard will be covered with birds because they are "traveling" and I like to make sure there is extra seed put out for them. They are generous in helping to control some of the mosquitoe population so I like to reward them and give them incentive to revisit my yard.

Answer 3

I take a spatula of peanut butter slapp it on a tree trunk then press bird seed (sunflower, cracked corn, millet, milo) in it the birds love it

Answer 4

Go to the dollar general and they have bird feeders for $1.00

Answer 5

my kids used to make bird feeders from empty milk cartons & hang them in the trees.