It's time to rake up the leaves, cut back the perennials and put the garden to bed. Part of this ritual is looking forward to winter -- is the water turned off? Is there wood for the fireplace? Are the bird feeders cleaned and hung?

For those of us in the Northern hemisphere, winter can be bright and sunny and invigorating. However, there are also days when it's a little bleak. The sight of a bright red cardinal and his lovely orange mate outside the kitchen window can be transfixing and uplifting in the depths of winter; a sign of life and a splash of colour.

Debates exist about the pros and cons of feeding wild birds. While some people argue that it can create a dependency, others say that in the city there are always alternate sources of food and we shouldn't worry too much about inconsistent feeding. However, if you live in an isolated area, and go to Florida for two months in the winter, it may not be a good idea to start feeding the birds. There is some evidence that birds that are fed through the winter are better able to survive and more productive in the spring; and during particularly brutal winters, neighbourhood bird feeders might be the thing that gets the birds through.

The bottom line is that it comes down to whether you will enjoy the birds, or whether you will find them a nuisance. If you have a place to hang a feeder, I recommend trying it and sitting back and watching the show. A few tips:

• Wait until the migrating birds have left, then choose a spot that is accessible (for cleaning the feeder as necessary and for refilling with seed).
• Off-ground feeders are safest for the birds, and can be hung on free-standing poles to to discourage the squirrels and they should be positioned away from any surfaces that could support a cat.
• Use a general all-purpose wild bird seed, or go for black oil sunflower seeds, which will attract a wide range of birds.
• Think about putting up a piece of suet for the woodpeckers.

You'll be surprised at just how many species will come visiting; but for me, in the depths of winter, the money shot is always the pair of cardinals. And they are always in a pair.

If you care to give it a try, check out the new Bauhaus birdfeeders, freshly arrived from the UK. Very stylish.