At any hardware or bird store, the variety of seed options may seem endless – but not all are created equal! Many inexpensive bird mixes contain ingredients that will repel species you want to attract; Milo is an example of such filler seed; most wild birds will likely ignore or kick away this option altogether.
Contents
Shelled Peanuts
Peanuts are an energy-rich food source that are highly popular with birds. Available both raw and roasted varieties, peanuts can be placed in feeders to attract different species. Peanuts offer both protein and fat for your backyard bird population – offering them alone or mixed into seed blends will bring in woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches and chickadees that often grab one from your offering and take off with it quickly.
Blue jays are another bird who love peanuts. It can be fascinating watching them swoop down onto the feeder, grab one from underneath, and fly off with it – especially since they tend to gather in family groups that take turns grabbing peanuts before flying back off again. Even on occasion a Tufted Titmouse might visit and try its luck at getting one for themselves!
Sunflower Hearts
Sunflower hearts (also referred to as sunflower kernels) are an ideal food choice for feeding wild birds. As these seeds don’t require cracking open their shells to consume, this creates less mess in your garden and results in drastically decreased waste when compared with other varieties of sunflower seeds.
They’re an energy-rich source that gives birds a boost during tough periods like moulting season or during their migration journey, and ground feeders make an excellent way to ensure these seeds don’t attract squirrels that might otherwise nibble them up!
Please note: Sunflower hearts should only be fed as standalone seeds and should never be mixed into mixed seed blends as these may contain excessively salty or otherwise flavourful seasonings that could harm birds.
No-Mess No-Millet
Many bird food manufacturers employ phrases like “no mess” and “waste free” when advertising their products, with these foods specifically designed to reduce shell waste under feeders and smelly, smelly deposits on the ground that attract mice and rodents into your backyard birding area.
No mess bird seed mixes typically consist of hulled sunflower kernels or hearts, cracked corn kernels, peanut pieces and nut chips as well as dried fruits to attract birds such as cardinals and woodpeckers that feed on nuts.
Search for mixes without white proso millet, red milo, wheat, canary seed, rape seed or flax seed as these filler seeds often sold at local discount stores to bring down costs. Their small shells easily spread when spilled off feeders; most birds simply don’t eat these fillers either.
Seed Blends
We provide various seed blends designed to attract specific bird species or to promote certain habitat types in your backyard birding experience. In addition, we carry special mixes tailored specifically towards hummingbirds and pollinators.
Varietal blends are mixtures of various seed lots (species) from one crop type, often sold under the name Colossus as certified seed. The CCIA will verify component varieties, percentages and certification status within any requested varietal blend requested from them; to do this a 1000g sample from each component must be sent directly to them for genetic grow out tests and/or lab analysis verification on a fee-basis.
This seed mix works exceptionally well in transition zones, foothills, and plains of most areas west of the Grasslands. It tolerates poor soil conditions and arid climates while its high-fat-protein seeds feed wildlife. Reclamation and erosion control efforts benefit greatly from using this mixture; all species present have proven themselves and will survive winter weather conditions.
