Editor’s Note: The Texas Historic Commission highlights 12 Texas regions of interest in its Texas Heritage Trails program. The following is a look at the Texas Tropical Trail, the second part in a series about these trails. For more information on this region, visit www.texastropicaltrail.com.

By Susan Tomlinson

Now that you’ve picked out your seed, you’re ready for the next big question: how to offer it up to the birds. Despite the array of options, this is a pretty easy task. A few simple feeders, filled with the right food, are really all you need to have a bustling, species-rich backyard.

There are all kinds of feeders available, each with their own purposes and strengths. The styles range from hanging tube, to hoppers (the ones shaped like tiny houses), to net socks, to platforms—the possibilities are seemingly endless. As with the feed itself, though, you can stick with some basics and satisfy nearly all the needs of your backyard visitors.