Crows are intelligent, fascinating creatures - but they may not be the birds you're hoping to attract to your yard. Avoiding their favorite seeds can help.

If you want to give your local birds the best feast possible, it might be ideal to invest in high-quality bird seed, which usually comes at a high price.

This photo taken July 14, 2006 shows a sunflower. It's easy to save money by growing your own bird seed, particularly when you use plants with easy-to-harvest heads, most notably sunflowers.

You can buy pre-made mixtures from the store or make your own bird seed snack. Safflower seeds are loved by cardinals, and thistle seeds are eaten up by American goldfinches and common redpolls.

Looking to attract some feathered friends to your back yard? Here's some guidance on building your own bird garden.

If you're making suet to attract birds to your yard, you might be tempted to use bacon grease. But while it's delicious, is ...

When you look at a coconut, do you see a bird feeder? Nine-year-old Ross Williams does. The Silver Spring boy decided to turn a coconut into a feeder because "the birds can eat the sunflower seeds ...

But consider growing your own for a substantial savings. Seed, nectar and berry-rich plants and shrubs will draw wild birds year-round.