Safflower seeds are an irresistibly tasty, high-energy seed that draws many wild birds. Cardinals especially enjoy them, but chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and grosbeaks alike are drawn to this food source.
Birds can eat these seeds on their own or combined with sunflower seeds in a mixture. However, it may take some time for birds to become accustomed to safflower.
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Nutritious
Safflower seeds are an nutrient-rich source of protein, fats and fiber for wild birds. Plus they supply essential oils that keep their feathers and skin healthy.
Birds that prefer safflower can be easily attracted to your feeders. However, it may take them some time for them to adjust to the new food source.
Safflower can be best enjoyed from a hopper or tube feeder with ample perch space, though scattering some seeds on the ground near shrubby, sheltered areas may attract ground-feeding birds like doves.
Safflower seeds may be smaller than sunflower seeds, but they still pack a nutritional punch. Not only do they supply calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc for birds to thrive on, but they also supply essential vitamins and antioxidants.
Attractive
Safflower seeds make an attractive addition to a bird feeder, particularly for finches and chickadees. Additionally, cardinals, wrens and mourning doves enjoy them as well.
Nyjer seed, commonly known as thistle seed, is a favorite among birds such as sparrows and titmice. While not the most affordable choice, many birders only provide it in one or two feeders to reduce expenses.
Black oil sunflower seeds make an ideal food choice for wild birds due to their thin shells that are easy to open. Furthermore, these seeds offer plenty of protein and fat for many backyard birds.
Seed types that you can offer to attract more birds to your backyard include striped sunflower, cracked corn and whole kernel corn. Cracked corn is especially popular among blue jays, chickadees and woodpeckers – it can be found at most feed supply and bird watching aisles.
Prevents Squirrels
Safflower seeds not only provide food to birds, but they can also deter squirrels from raiding bird feeders. The oil content of safflower seeds attracts cardinals, titmice and finches while its slightly bitter taste deters rodents from raiding bird feeders.
You can protect specific plants from damage by placing hardware cloth (wire mesh or chicken wire) around bulbs, fruit trees and flower beds. Paper bags over sunflowers will keep moles away while aluminum flashing around tree trunks deters animals from climbing its branches.
Remove sources of food that might tempt squirrels, such as trash, pet food, fallen nuts and fruit. Place these items into sturdy trash cans with lids and secure them securely.
Maintaining a clear yard of woodpiles and firewood will discourage squirrels from climbing up your home or around its chimney. Furthermore, make sure there are no openings in the foundation or water-damaged eaves that they could use to get inside.
Easy to Clean
One of the greatest benefits of safflower seeds for wild birds is how easy they are to clean up after themselves. All crumbs and shells that fall to the ground can easily be picked up with a shovel or garden fork.
If you have a tube or platform feeder, consider using a seed-catching tray underneath it to keep all of the mess from falling to the ground. These trays attach to the feeder below it, and all debris will fall into them instead of being thrown onto the surface.
This helps keep down the mess that can accumulate under and around the feeder, making it difficult to clean. Furthermore, feeder trays give birds a flat surface for eating which helps protect them from being bullied by aggressive birds.
Safflower seed is an excellent choice for attracting cardinals, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and grosbeaks to your bird feeder. However, it’s wise to mix it with other seeds that your birds are more familiar with until they learn how to eat it on their own.
