Eva Solo

I'm kicking off a Feed the birds extravaganza! I've only got one pet in my family, but it's fun to pretend the birds that come visit my windowsill are like my pets, too. Each day for the next two weeks, I'll share a new feeder and seed combo – and share what kind of feathery friends will likely stop by for a snack!

Start out with a tray feeder like this sleek Eva Solo Bird Table ($154.99) and add some millet. Millet is lower in fat than other seeds and very nutritious with high levels of proteins, carbohydrates, B-complex vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in addition to a host of other important nutrients. Because it's very appealing to many bird species, switch it up and add some white millet ($5.99 for five pounds) and red millet ($8.99 for five pounds). To see what kind of birds you'll likely attract with this combo, read more

As an urban dweller, I don't come into contact with nature as much as I'd like. But I do have the benefit of a backyard full of birds: hummingbirds, blue jays, and all sorts of others that my amateur bird-watching skills have yet to identify.

Though bird-watching may not be the hippest hobby, there are tons of hip bird houses and bird feeders on the market right now. My favorite is probably this J Schatz Egg Bird Feeder ($125), which comes in a rainbow of colors. Here are the other great high-design bird dwellings I've found.