Most people who quit feeding birds get frustrated because they attract so many they don't like. Is there any way to attract nothing but the birds you like?

The short answer is no but the long answer is not quite hardly but almost nearly now and then.

You may be one who thinks all birds are wonderful and you are as happy with one kind as another. That's a beautiful. I admire you. Just buy a good all-purpose feed and have a ball. Smile because you are definitely going to heaven when you die. You may go at any time, ala Elijah (or was it Elisha?) who was just scooped up into a divine chariot one day as he walked to the birdseed store

I confess there are birds that get on my last nerve. I have flung myself on the bird-watcher's mourner's bench many times and tried to change but after a period of repentance, I always backslide and go back to grinding my teeth as I have visions of 410 gauge birdshot shells.

Take starlings. Please, take starlings. I bought a $35 "woodpecker only" feeder with a flat surface and two holes. The ad said only woodpeckers could cling. Friends, starlings can cling, do chin-ups, hang upside down, inside out or whatever it takes to get to grub.  With my $35 wonder, they'd cling long enough to rake out the mix on the ground, then stroll around and munch it up.

It's so exciting when the red-bellies, downies, hairys and flickers come in but most of the time the feeder is empty when they arrive. Out of a gallon jug, the woodpeckers are lucky to get a cup.

Take purple and house finches. Please take purple and house finches. They were rare in these parts 30 years ago when I started feeding birds. When I first saw the purples with their reddish heads (whoever named them was colorblind), I was all atwitter. Mama Purple must lay a dozen eggs in a sitting because no bird since the starling has populated so madly. 

So what's the problem with this little creature that can make your heart flip-flop the first time you see him? It's numbers, my friend. If they were carnivores, they could eat a water buffalo on a lazy summer afternoon.

The closest you can come to reducing the amount of your food going to starlings is to feed safflower seeds only. No blackbird likes safflower. Redwings will eat them but they seldom inundate your feeding area. Plus, they are pretty.

The only way I have found to minimize the amount of seeds the purple and house finches consume is to use a belted feeder called "The Chickadee." They stock them at Wild Birds Unlimited on East Brainerd Road. Despite their inability to cling to them very long, they will still get their share.

I can report one thing that does almost completely work in keeping purple and house finches off your thistle feeder. Buy one that requires the birds to dine upside down (also available at Wild Birds Unlimited). Goldfinch can eat that way with no strain and there's no prettier bird.

I think one reason so many people feed hummingbirds only is no other birds can eat from the feeders. The ants, wasps and yellow jackets are a slight problem at times but the hummers get almost all of the good stuff.

If your budget won't allow investment in special feeders and sunflower and safflower seeds, don't give up bird watching. Just buy cracked corn. Many kinds of birds like it and it's cheap.

You may be wondering why I keep feeding birds since it looks so complicated to design your feeding area to attract the ones you prefer. My Mama once said, "Son, you have to feed nine bums to help one worthy soul." I'm convinced starlings and purple finches popped into her head when she made that profound statement.