If you are new to feeding wild birds, the variety of bird seed options available at your local hardware or pet store can seem overwhelming. Not all types are created equal!
Cheaper blends often contain a high proportion of filler seeds that birds often ignore and discard. This creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and fungi which can quickly contaminate fresh seed.
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Sunflower Seed
Sunflower seed is one of the best wild bird foods to attract a wide range of birds. Packed full of vitamins E and phytoestrogens, protein, fiber and essential fatty acids; plus magnesium, calcium, iron zinc copper and selenium it makes an excellent bird food choice.
Addition of crunchy cereal to soups, curries and porridges is a delicious way to give them an added dimension. Additionally, it’s commonly added as a delicious texture boost in breads and cakes as well.
Another benefit of sunflower seed is that it contains essential fatty acids, particularly omega-3 fatty acid. This promotes skin health and helps to slow the signs of aging.
Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of antioxidants. These plant compounds work to combat free radicals in the body, protecting you from inflammation and heart disease. Furthermore, sunflower seeds help support a healthy immune system.
Safflower Seed
Safflower seed, commonly referred to as sunflower seed, is a popular wild bird food. It’s high in protein, fat and oil – making it an ideal meal for many types of birds.
However, some wild birds find the bitter taste of citrus unpleasant; these include grackles, blackbirds and European starlings.
To encourage your birds to try safflower seed, add it gradually over time and vary the proportion of safflower to other seeds in your mix. Once they become familiar with the new seed, they may begin eating it more frequently.
Safflower makes for a great addition to tube and platform feeders with decent perch space for cardinals, grosbeaks and house finches. You can also sprinkle some safflower on the ground near sheltered areas to attract mourning doves.
Nuts
Peanuts, walnuts, pecans and other nuts make excellent wild bird seed, providing heart-healthy sources of protein and fat for birds. Furthermore, nuts contain essential Omega 3 fatty acids which benefit birds’ development.
Many wild birds enjoy eating nuts, such as woodpeckers, chickadees, jays and nuthatches. You can find a wide range of nuts at local stores.
In warm climates, some nuts can spoil quickly if not kept frozen. To ensure the freshest supply for later use, keep a stash of frozen nuts on hand at all times. Stale, moldy or rancid nuts are not beneficial to birds and must be discarded.
When offering nuts to wild birds, make sure they are all unsalted and without flavors or coatings that could harm them. Furthermore, offer peanuts in their shells so all nut-eating birds have a chance to sample them.
Fruits
Fruits are an important source of nutrition for many wild birds, such as thrushes (including robins and bluebirds), tanagers, thrashers, orioles, jays, mockingbirds, woodpeckers and more. Popular fruits among birds include apples pears plums apricots bananas grapefruit and citrus.
Fruit is an inexpensive and simple way to attract more species to your feeders. All you have to do is add some chunks of fruit to a platform or tray, or fill a suet cage with fresh produce.
Excess fruit can be frozen during the summer and fall to provide birds with sustenance through winter. Be sure to remove any fruit that has fermented or spoiled, as this could harm your birds or even poison them.
