Last summer, after hanging up bird feeders in my yard for several years, I decided to hang up those feeders again — in the garage. I was done with bird feeding.

Why? Frankly, because as a self-proclaimed Conscientious Bird Watcher (CBW), I knew too much.

Sure, I tried to do it right when I had feeders. I cultivated a bird-friendly landscape and kept my squirrel- and raccoon-proof feeder stations clean. The numbers and diversity of birds at home were increasing each year, and I loved seeing and hearing them.

At the same time, as I know all too well, there are plenty of documented downsides to feeding birds: increased susceptibility to disease from overcrowding or an unclean feeder; collisions with windows; increased vulnerability to ambush by sharp-shinned hawks in the air and hidden cats on the ground. Roaming cats take a staggering toll on birds worldwide, second only to habitat loss and climate change.

As a CBW, I had witnessed all of these downsides at home in spite of the precautions I took. But this winter, as I looked out over my empty backyard, I thought of the other side to this debate.

While many bird species migrate south to warmer places in the fall, those that stay have adapted to our relatively mild Northwest winters. Except when it’s not so mild. Like this year with early snow, wind and rain in November and a forecast for more of the same as the effects of La Niña begin in January. In such harsh conditions, feeders can provide a life buoy to birds.

What’s more, there’s much one can do to make a feeding station safe. When hanging your feeders, consider yourself the manager of food quality and safety at your little fast food restaurant for birds. You know that wet, mushy and moldy meals aren’t as good as they sound, and they’re a common problem with tray feeders, especially in winter.

To attract the greatest diversity of birds in winter, I recommend two types of feeders and food: clear plastic tube feeders filled with black-oil sunflower seeds and suet cakes placed in wire baskets. Sunflower seeds are known to attract over 50 species of birds and, in winter, suet adds woodpeckers, warblers and thrushes. While you’re at it, consider adding a hummingbird feeder for our over-wintering Anna’s hummingbird, which over the last 30 years has extended its winter range northward from coastal California to Vancouver, B.C.

You can also minimize window collisions by placing the feeders directly on the window or less than four feet away. If you want to place them farther away, start at 30 feet or more. Why do collisions occur? Birds see their mirror image as an intruder that they will attack — ouch! They may also attempt to fly into the reflected landscape. A fool-proof option is to stretch a screen of plastic bird mesh in front of any picture windows that may foster collisions.

Finally, don’t forget to wash those feeders at least monthly with a solution of soapy water amended with one part bleach to nine parts water.

According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, bird-watching has become the No. 1 outdoor pastime in the United States, with 51.3 million birders, surpassing even gardening. Yet bird populations in the U.S. and worldwide have dropped precipitously since 1950, mostly due to loss of habitat.

You know, maybe this CBW should give it another shot. If I put up some feeders again, I could engage in an activity I and millions of others love while helping those hardy birds of winter.

I’ve missed nuthatches with their toy-horn calls, those over-wintering Townsend’s and orange-crowned warblers and that varied thrush that came to our suet feeder when snow covered the ground last year.

OK, I’m going to hang up a feeder or two, but only through April. I can’t wait to see who comes back first. Maybe a downy woodpecker?

— Alan Huggins is a lifelong learner who enjoys birds and nature.