Now that winter weather has arrived, and we have had touches of snow to prove it, many people are discovering not only the excitement of bird-watching, but also how easy it is to attract bird life. For the small cost of regular handouts, our feathered friends flit about the premises putting on a show each day that rivals a Disney production.

Birds, with their delightful songs, lively antics and beautiful colors are a most desired addition to the garden. So many people are discovering the pleasures of bird-watching that it ranks as America's second favorite pastimes, in a survey conducted by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Gardening still ranks as the No. 1 favorite pastime.

More and more people are discovering the pleasure of bird-watching and bird feeding to attract their winged friends to their landscape. All birds require four basics to survive in any area -- ample food, water, cover and a proper habitat.

As winter comes upon us, the growing season of outdoor vegetation has stopped and the natural supply of food for the birds has dwindled. We need to supply their needs. In the wild, birds feed on seeds, fruits, flower nectar, tree sap, insects, spiders and worms. Now, that these are not available, they depend upon us in some measure for their sustenance.

Some birds prefer to feed on the ground, others high up on hanging feeders and still others prefer to cling to the trunks of trees. In addition to food, water is also an essential ingredient in attracting birds. They require water to drink, to clean their plumage and to stimulate oil glands in their feathers which help insulate them from the cold.

There is always much discussion about which birds like different foods. While we lived on Maria Louise Lane, we found that the sunflower seed was the most popular in the overall picture. It did not seem to matter if it were the black-striped or the oil (solid black) sunflower seed they would strip the feeders. Authorities tell us that sunflower seeds bring cardinals, bluejays, chickadees and less colorful (and less desirable birds) such as starlings and sparrows. Thistle seeds will attract goldfinches and pine siskins. Suet or meat drippings extended with cornmeal or oatmeal will attract woodpeckers. Mockingbirds like to dine on apples, orange rinds and raisins.

At our new house we mostly have house finches but neighbors across the street, who keep their feeders out all summer have lured the cardinals into staying with them. What we have not seen here are chickadees and nuthatches.

Most of the birds coming to our feeders here are finches. A recent article in the Missouri Conservationist told how they were increasing in our area. In another recent column in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Clarissa Start told of hearing from a reader who told the story of the finches' presence here.

It seems that originally house finches were imported to New York to be sold as caged birds, but protesters led to their release on Long Island. Eventually they migrated westward, accounting for the increasing numbers we see here.

When we visited Mexico during the winters for a few years, we were always shocked to see our bluejays, cardinals, goldfinches and several of our native birds in cages, being sold at the open market.

At the Health Center of Chateau Girardeau there is a new Living Design Aviary where residents can watch beautifully colored birds from other countries bathing, cleaning and preening.

Among these caged birds are:

The tan and white birds with tan bills are Society Finches. Never living in the wild, they were created by the Chinese for foster parents to other birds' babies.

The smallest birds, the Orange Cheek Waxbill, from Africa, sports a bright cheek patch. Both the male and female are typically tan and white.

The large yellow bird is a canary from the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa. Canaries are loners and do not do well when with other birds. They have been kept as pets for more than 500 years.

The beautiful Diamond Doves from Australia are the world's smallest doves. The male has a large ring around his eye.

The little black, white and brown birds are tri-colored nuns from Africa, named after the habits of Catholic nuns.

The white and red billed zebra finches of Australia are black and white striped in the wild. Males have darker bills than the females and they sing a beautiful song.

The wings of the glossy black birds are brushed with an iridescent green, thus their name, Bronze Winged Manikins. A single one would tend to be shy, but takes strength in numbers.

These birds are provided by Living Design Inc. of Worthing, S.D.

Readers have asked for a recipe previously run for attracting birds to the feeder. The following called "Maggie's Porridge" is from a member of the Atlanta Audubon Society.

Maggie's Porridge

2 cups cornmeal

2 cups ground suet

2 cups sugar

1 cup flour

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons peanut butter (optional)

Mix well and cook in a double boiler for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour into a well-greased pan (9x12) to harden, in the refrigerator. Cut into chunks as needed.

A regular suet holder, wire soap dish, hardware cloth or chicken wire attached to a tree trunk, are all good feeding stations.

~Mary Blue is a resident of Cape Girardeau and an avid gardener.