Already, 19-month-old Aaron Frohnapfel has joined the flocks of wintertime bird watchers.

"He runs to the window and yells, 'See birds! See birds!'" said Jennifer Frohnapfel, mother to Aaron and his bird-loving sister, 8-year-old Emmaline.

Frohnapfel, a master gardener and official bird counter, makes her family's love of nature a yearlong effort with the focus on flora in the summer and fauna during winter months.

Filled feeders, seeds splayed on porch railings and occasional offerings of orange or apple bits draw multi-colored native birds to the Frohnapfel's woodsy yard in Oakland Township.

"Bird watching is a great hobby because it is not terribly expensive and everyone in the family can participate," she said.

According to the National Audubon Society's Internet site, nearly one-third of North America's adult population dispenses about a billion pounds of birdseed each year.

Bird watching or "birding," said Cathy Setzer, is second only to gardening as this nation's favorite hobby.

"We feed birds because we like to watch them," said Setzer, a Mercer County resident who recently presented the winter bird feeding program at Jennings Environmental Education Center in Brady Township.

While there was some speculation in years past that offering store-bought seed made wild birds feeder-dependent, Setzer says we now know it's OK because feeder food only supplements what birds eat from the wild. Birds, she says, will take only 10 percent to 15 percent of their diets from feeders.

Kathie Goodblood is president of the Batramian Audubon Society, which serves Butler, Lawrence, Mercer and Venango counties.

She says under a best-case-scenario, bird watchers would follow in Frohnapfel's footsteps, outfitting their yards with plants, bushes and trees that birds could call on for natural homes and meals.

"Birdscaping," some experts call it.

Native grasses, seedy perennials like coneflowers and black-eyed Susan and fruit- bearing plants provide healthy, natural meals.

Plants, trees and shrubbery can provide cover from predators and shelter from wind.

But for bird watchers who do not have the property, time or finances to dedicate to the hobby, Goodblood says, "Just do what you can do. Birds will take a cue from you, learn your habits and respond."

Most birds local to Butler County will eat from a feeder, placed in an area that is easy to see and refill.

Goodblood says pick the type of seed you offer by the type of bird you wish to attract.

Thistle, for example, draws goldfinches. Woodpeckers like suet. Millet attracts doves, juncos and sparrows.

But, Goodblood says, the single most universal seed for bird watchers is black sunflowers. "Oilers," as they are called, are high in fat and attract desirable birds, including cardinals, blue jays, purple finches, chickadees, titmice and nuthatches.

And most "nuisance" birds, like European starlings and grackles, are not interested.

Goodblood advises hobbiests to buy seed in bulk for a savings. Store unused seed in a dry, mouse-proof container like a metal garbage can.

"Avoid the cheap wild bird mixes they sell at big box stores," Goodblood says. In the long run, there is no savings because "it contains filler that birds will not eat."

Setzer says bird watchers should boost the energy level of the food they provide during winter because days are shorter and birds have less time to eat. Suet and peanut-based products, she says, are good choices.

"But the jury is still out on peanut butter," Setzer says, noting that bird watchers who still wish to serve peanut butter should err on the side of caution and stir in a seed mixture.

If your feeder attracts a bird that feeds on its friends — like a hawk — and it is not your intention to provide food for that bird, bring feeders indoors for a few days, Goodblood said. After a few rounds of discouragement, hungry hunters will fly elsewhere.

Frohnapfel said one of her neighbors occasionally loses a birdfeeder to a bear. But her family only sees squirrels and a 20-pound raccoon as repeat diners at their feeder.

Mice, chipmunks and even deer have been known to grab take-out food from residential bird feeders.

To ward off unwelcome critters, experts say pick a higher birdfeeder with a baffle. Or, bird watchers can offer food that is not appealing to many animals, like safflower, or offer bird food in "cakes" that pests can not easily scurry away with.

Starlings also can be discouraged by feeders that open on the bottom as they are more reluctant than most desirable birds to hang upside down.

But instead of fighting off pesky eaters, Frohnapfel said at her house, "We just feed them, too."

In addition to food, Goodblood said shelter and water are in high demand by wild birds during winter months.

Many birds, including nuthatches and woodpeckers, will use commercially made houses to nest at night and in cold weather.

And, Goodblood suggests, when the holidays have passed and it's time to find new use for the evergreen in the living room, consider donating it back to nature.

A used Christmas tree placed near a bird feeding station provides shelter from wind and predators.

Setzer said, if possible, bird watchers should move their feeders closer to trees or buildings during winter to help block bitter winds.And, she advises buying a larger feeder cover to protect the perches from snow.For water, Goodblood, in her Venango County yard, has a feature that bubbles and moves to keep from freezing.But for those looking for something less elaborate, Goodblood said there are more economical electric and solar birdbath warmers. These gizmos warm the water only enough to keep it from freezing.Many bird watchers, like Frohnapfel, store their birdbaths during winter months to keep them from freezing and cracking.Birds also benefit from grit, which they use to help digest food. Goodblood says uncover a little spot near your feeding area to have a healthy flock."This why you often see birds on the roadway during winter," Goodblood said. "They are taking the gravel."Goodblood stresses the most important thing hobbiests can provide birds is a hygienic environment.Clean food and water areas as often as possible, but no less than once a month, she said.In addition to watching birds, there are several wintertime programs birders can join in on.Frohnapfer's family, for example, for the past six years has counted birds for Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Project FeederWatch.The program, which runs November through April, annually collects data to "help scientists track broadscale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance," according to its Web site."And it's fun," Frohnapfel said.The National Audubon Society also conducts an annual bird count, ending Jan. 5.Setzer, who also is a board member for the Batramian Audubon Society and owner of The Birdwatchers Store in Slippery Rock, said the people she encounters are most endeared to two native birds."Northern Cardinals, the pretty red birds," she said. "And blue jays because they are such clowns."