Bird lovers who appreciate wild bird seed often opt for non-GMO organic wild bird seed. But it is important to keep in mind that all bird seeds may not provide equal levels of nutrition.
Lower quality bird seed mixes often contain fillers such as cracked corn, milo, oats and wheat that birds don’t particularly appreciate.
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It’s More Nutritious
Conventional seed used for bird food may contain depleted nutrition due to being left from previous harvests or being irradiated; with organic seeds providing more vitamins, minerals and other vital nutrients.
Organic seed blends typically include all the seeds wild birds love to eat, such as sunflower seeds, peanuts and safflower. Nut mixes also attract finches, nuthatches and woodpeckers. One thing these seeds have in common is being rich in protein – something essential for birds who rely solely on seeds for sustenance.
Online is by far the best place to purchase organic bird seed, as it offers significant cost savings over buying it in stores and ensures fresh, nutritious seed. When looking at seed mixes that include red milo (a filler seed that few birds consume and provides minimal nutritional benefit).
It’s Better for the Environment
Organic food is produced without chemical fertilizers or pesticides, making it more nutritious for birds as well as the environment. Conventional bird seed often contains chemicals that leach into groundwater sources and cause environmental harm when used on an industrial scale production line.
Organic farming practices also help prevent soil erosion, which has an adverse impact on water quality, while their biodiversity-promoting approach are beneficial to the overall environment.
Selecting an organic wild bird seed blend will benefit your community, local economy, and environment, giving you peace of mind that birds are receiving high-quality nutrient-rich foods. Avoid fillers like cracked corn, milo, oats and wheat that many birds do not enjoy eating; and ensure you use a special feeder for safflower seeds as this can deter squirrels or other unwanted pests from feeding on them. A quality wild bird mix combined with specialty seeds such as suet will attract many different types of wildlife into your yard!
It’s More Affordable
Check that the birdseed you buy is fresh by looking out for empty hulls, excessive dust or inedible debris; inspect for signs of insect infestation such as webbing clumps or edible feces clumps; also look out for empty packaging that looks old or out-of-date.
Many cheap bird seed mixes contain fillers such as cracked corn, milo and sorghum that aren’t preferred by wild birds, in order to bulk up the mix with inexpensive seeds such as radish or canola that have minimal nutritional value for wild birds.
Be on the lookout for more popular and nutritious seeds like black oil sunflower seed, safflower (which attracts orioles), flax seed or black oil sunflower seeds which contain naturally fatty oils that provide energy for wild birds during cold weather conditions and migration periods or winter seasons. They’re also vital in keeping birds warm during long migration journeys and winter seasons.
It’s Better for the Birds
Though feeding birds is essential, ensuring they receive a nutritionally sound diet should also be of equal concern. Unfortunately, seed mixes commonly found on supermarket shelves contain filler seeds that could potentially harm them; such fillers could include old, nutritionally depleted or rancid seeds as well as attract undesirable scavenger birds or rodents.
A new generation of bird feeders are increasingly willing to spend a little extra for products that are healthier for both birds and humans alike. Organic wild bird seed is free from potentially toxic chemicals and grown using more sustainable farming practices that help build a more balanced ecosystem for all involved.
Rob Brunes, director of seed supply for Wild Birds Unlimited, reports that his customers “absolutely ask about organic” products. Once the grain industry recovers from COVID-19-related hangover, it should attempt to provide more organic seed to market.
