Time for backyard birds to "come and get it".

• Position: WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide - Wild Birds Unlimited Inc.'s birdhouses - Brief article

When you're making out your holiday list this season, don't forget about our feathered friends. Birds are essential to a healthy ecosystem and birdfeeding has become a very popular hobby--second only to gardening. By adjusting the blend of seeds and type of feeder, you can attract a wide variety of birds to your backyard even as the weather turns cooler.

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For the latest in birdhouses, we turned to Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop, Carmel, Ind. We immediately were drawn to the line of recycled feeders called EcoTough. These are wood-free feeders that actually look like wood. Made from milk jugs, they are extremely durable and come with a lifetime guarantee--they won't rot, crack, fade, or split. Depending on size, anywhere from eight to 55 jugs are used to make each feeder and, therefore, are not in our landfills.

The Classic hopper design just may be the perfect birdfeeder. It is attractive and easy to maintain, and refilling is a breeze--just lift the roof. Its most-popular asset is that it gives...