We are bird lovers too, and feed them all year. I used to have a feeder close to the house, but a Massey pest man told us to put the feeder at the back of the yard in the open space, because if rats are attracted to the feed they will not run out in the open to the seed, they like to hug walls close to their nests. We live close to a preserve and our night visitors are owls and owls just love vermin for dinner
Last year we had the greatest gift of all, a Painted Bunting, what an incredible looking bird, so small and yet the colors were so vibrant. I called the bird club here and they have never seen one in TV before. He or she, came to eat for two days and then migrated off to other areas. Something I will never forget.