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You don't necessarily have to go walking in a winter wonderland - watching will suffice when it comes to seeing birds in your backyard during the cold weather.

And, according to Mike Tucker, manager of the Caratunk Wildlife Refuge in Seekonk, you can guarantee plenty of bird activity with properly placed feeders, warm water baths and a plentiful source of food.

Tucker gave the following advice for making your property a go-to place for birds this winter:

When placing a feeder in the yard, make sure there are no bushes under or near it as they can be used as ambush points for cats. Don't hang feeders off porches either, for exactly the same reason.

Putting a feeder where there are dense shrubs or evergreens nearby isn't a bad idea, however. They give the birds places to duck into to avoid a predator or the elements. Tucker puts loosely assembled brush piles around the feeders at Caratunk that allow birds such as white-throated sparrows and Eastern towhees to flit in and out between or during feedings. Add a heated bird bath to a feeding area and "it's like a bird magnet," said Tucker, noting while not all birds will go for seed, they will all go to an open water source. Place the bath close to the feeder, but not directly underneath it. That way droppings and seed husks won't contaminate it.

Tucker said he places his heated bath on a 4- to 4-1/2-foot-tall pedestal and places rocks around it to make it look more natural. Then he places sticks in the rocks to provide perches for the birds. Birds perch on the sticks before going to the seed, and it makes for a great photo opportunity, providing a more natural looking picture as opposed to a bird at a feeder. (Tucker is a nature photographer.)

Speaking of photos, an ideal way to capture birds with a camera is by building a type of blind where you can get up-close shots without scaring away your subjects.

In his backyard, Tucker has a fence where he's sawed a hole just large enough for his camera lens and has rigged up a shelter. It's a creative winter activity for kids, too.

Along with the type of feeder you get, carefully consider the kind of food that's going in it. Think about the types of birds you want to attract and whether you want squirrels in the wildlife mix. There are special feeders for thistle that will attract gold finches and maybe even the rare pine siskin.

Suet, which can simply be hung in an old onion bag, will attract a variety birds, including woodpeckers, titmice and nuthatchers. Rendered suet can keep even in warmer weather. The butcher block blend should be reserved for cold weather. Wait until every night is below freezing and the days are not too warm before using the butcher block type.

Suet attracts birds that seed might not. Try to find rendered suet without seed in it. Suet is a source of fat for birds bracing against the cold.

For seed-eating birds, you can't go wrong with black oil sunflower seeds. It is usually more expensive but worth it to attract a montage of winged creatures. Mix in some cracked corn for added appeal.

Stay away from nut blends if you want to discourage squirrels. Tucker sprinkles cracked corn around the area to keep squirrels happy and hopefully away from the more choice bird food.

He also uses what he calls a "stove pipe" baffle to keep the squirrels on the skid of pole feeders. There are also feeders with metal cages around them that allow only smaller birds to feed, discouraging "bully" birds and squirrels. For the larger birds, seed and cracked corn can be spread along the open ground.

Avoid "cheap seeds," anything including millet or sorghum. "That just remains in the feeder," Tucker said.

Keep in mind that plant selection can also draw more variety. Plants or trees that generate berries "can add another element and different species you might not otherwise see," Tucker said.

His crabapple tree, which has fruit smaller than cherries, "has been loaded with robins and cedar waxwings for the past several days," he said.

Working with what you already have in your yard can attract birds as well. Leaving a snag or rotted tree in your yard, as long as it doesn't pose a safety hazard, attracts insects which in turn attract birds like woodpeckers. They can also serve as nesting outposts during the year.

SUSAN LaHOUD can be reached at 508-236-0398 or at slahoud@thesunchronicle.com.