According to a 2006 survey by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, backyard birding continues to boom as one of America's favorite leisure activities.

More than 55 million Americans feed birds and other wildlife in their backyards. In so doing, birders spend more than $3 billion annually. So, if you feed birds in your backyard, you're in good company.

Broaden the scope of the survey to "wildlife watching" and more than 71 million Americans spent nearly $45 billion observing, feeding and photographing wildlife in 2006. Wildlife is big business, and it starts in the backyard.

"Business has been surprisingly strong so far in 2009," said Laura Hansen, co-owner of the three Wild Birds Unlimited stores in the Pittsburgh area. "I think people are cocooning -- entertaining themselves at home -- and backyard birding is a perfect fit."

In the Pittsburgh area, six businesses qualify as "wild bird stores." Wild Birds Unlimited has locations in the Wexford section of Pine, Monroeville and the South Hills; there's a Wild Bird Center in McMurray; The Songbird Sanctuary is located in Blawnox; and the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve in Fox Chapel operates an Audubon Nature Store. Each offers a full line of bird seed, feeders, nest boxes and other backyard birding accessories.

Backyard birding is particularly appealing in tough economic times. The only equipment needed is a feeder and some seed. Binoculars and a field guide are helpful, but not essential. Backyard birding is also a great family activity and a great way to get kids interested in science.

The best way to attract backyard birds is to set up a feeding station. A feeder filled with sunflower seeds is virtually guaranteed to attract a variety of colorful birds. And winter is the best time to start because wild birds are constantly searching for new food sources.

Expert advice is helpful when establishing a backyard feeding station. Among the best sources of such advice are the owners and employees of local wild bird stores. It's their livelihood, and their success depends on satisfying customers. Each has favorite tips for helping new backyard birders get started.

"First," said Hansen, "decide where and how the feeder will be placed. Will it be on a pole, hanging from a tree or, perhaps, on a window? Next, decide if squirrels are or will be a problem. And finally, decide what type of birds one would like to attract? Goldfinches, woodpeckers and blue jays all can be attracted to specific feeders."

Janet Bronder, owner of The Songbird Sanctuary suggests, "choosing a feeder that enables you to feed a variety of foods in a variety of ways. Each species has its feeding preferences. By offering an assortment of foods in different ways, you will attract more birds."

Knowing that birds find food by sight can be an advantage to backyard birders.

"Locate feeders where the birds will find it and, of course, where you can see them," said Bronder. "Birds need shelter and protection from nearby trees and shrubs, but those same trees and shrubs can also hide predators. Locating a feeder about 6 to 10 feet from protective cover is a good rule of thumb to keep birds comfortable and safe."

To maximize the number of birds that visit a feeder, Bronder advises keeping them clean.

"A clean feeder means more birds," she says. "Keep a feeder clean by washing it periodically with a 10 parts water, one part bleach solution. Allow the feeder to air dry before refilling with fresh, high-quality food."

Feeder location can be key.

"Place feeders where you can see the birds," said Sandy Antoinette, co-owner of the Wild Bird Center in McMurray. "I recommend different feeders for patios, decks and windows. And I strongly advise using fresh, high quality seed. Fresh seed makes all the difference in the world."

Antoinette also believes it's important for new birders to identify the birds they see in the backyard.

"A good field guide helps birders identify backyard visitors," she says, "and knowing what you're seeing makes the experience more enjoyable."

Most experienced backyard birders have favorite feeders, and store owners are no different, said.

"A good quality feeder is a great investment. I recommend either a recycled plastic hopper feeder or tube feeder with a lifetime guarantee," she said. "My all time favorite feeder is the 'Eliminator.' It's a tube with a weight-activated shroud that closes off the seed ports when squirrels try to feed."

Bronder recommends a hopper feeder made from recycled plastic.

"It should have a tray large enough to attract a wide variety of birds, have compartments for both seed and suet, and be easy to fill and clean. And I like a feeder that can be either hung or pole-mounted for maximum flexibility. Offering both seed and suet will attract a wide variety of birds, and the feeder's roof and bin help protect the foods from the elements."

Antoinette's favorite starter is a simple nyjer (thistle) sock for finches.

"It's inexpensive, she explains, "and goldfinches love nyjer. If a customer gets hooked on feeding wild birds, they can always upgrade later to better feeders."

A high quality seed mix is essential to attracting favorite birds such as cardinals, finches, chickadees and woodpeckers. A mix that includes oil sunflower, sunflower chips, safflower, striped sunflower and peanuts seems to be the most popular mix in the Pittsburgh area. Each birder has a favorite in-store mix, and Hansen, Bronder and Antoinette agree that, "with bird seed, you get what you pay for."

A final tip that all three experts agree on: A good bird identification guide enhances the backyard birding experience. There are dozens to choose from, but Bronder's favorite is "Peterson Field Guide to Feeder Birds of Eastern North America" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) by Roger Tory Peterson.

"It's chock full of information in a non-intimidating format," she said.

With several weeks of winter weather remaining, it's not too late to set up a winter bird-feeding station. And Hansen likes to tell her customers, "Feeding birds can be enjoyed all year long. The nesting season is a marvelous time to watch birds bring their young to feeders."