Feeding birds is an engaging family activity. Make sure that the quality of feed that you give to backyard visitors doesn’t suffer.
Cheap bird seed mixtures may turn out to be costly in the long run. Unattended seeds quickly spoil, harboring bacteria which could pose health threats to birds.
High quality seeds like sunflower, safflower and peanuts contain more protein and fat than lower quality mixes, drawing in more birds to your feeders.
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Sunflower Seed
Sunflower seeds are an irresistibly crunchy treat and often found in wild bird seed mixes. Humans enjoy snacking on them raw or roasted; for an easier experience they can even be hulled so as to be easier to consume.
Sunflower seeds’ fatty acids help lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease, providing a rich source of antioxidants such as vitamins E and C as well as zinc selenium and B6.
Though sunflower seed allergies are rare, their proteins or other substances in them may trigger itching of the mouth and lips, hay fever, rashes, vomiting and anaphylaxis in some people. Sunflower seeds provide excellent sources of protein and dietary fiber as well as important vitamins and minerals like folate, magnesium phosphorus iron zinc selenium.
Safflower Seed
Safflower seed (or “nyjer”) is a small, white, angular seed rich in proteins and fats that is enjoyed by birds such as cardinals, grosbeaks, chickadees, nuthatches and mourning doves. Safflowers differ from sunflower seeds in that they possess a harder shell that may make opening difficult; their bitter taste also deters some “bully” birds like European Starlings and Grackles from eating it!
Offer safflower seed in a tray or hopper feeder to see these vibrant birds enjoy their treat, or scatter it on a ground feeder to draw in quail, doves, and finches. Safflower seeds make an excellent alternative to black oil sunflower seeds which may attract mold as well as squirrels; baffles or special feeders may help prevent this issue.
White Millet
White millet is a highly digestible grain often added to wild bird seed mixes to attract ground feeding birds like sparrows, juncos, and towhees. White millet can provide birds with protein, fiber, fat, calcium, vitamins, and minerals they require for breeding, moulting or weaning periods – providing your backyard birds with everything they need for a successful journey! It can even help ease their distress during breeding events!
This popular seed can be placed in either a tray feeder or scattered directly on the ground, and has proven especially successful at attracting finches and other small bird species that cannot access larger feeder holes. Furthermore, it has long been considered an essential component in numerous bird seed blends.
Rapeseed
Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is an herbaceous perennial plant which yields oil for culinary and industrial uses, commonly referred to as canola oil and offering potential heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acid benefits. Rapeseed is grown as both food crop and forage; however, seed meal produced from its cultivation contains too much glucosinolate to be fed directly to livestock as feed ration.
Rapeseed oil is heavily refined using hexane for maximum purity, to eliminate gums, free fatty acids and any unappetizing colors that might arise during processing. Once refined, its high cooking temperature makes it ideal for frying and sauteing. Plus, its relatively low saturated fat levels and abundant vitamin E antioxidant levels make it a highly sought-after cooking oil worldwide. Its mild flavor makes rapeseed oil one of the world’s favorite cooking oils!
Canary Seed
Canary seed (Phalaris canariensis), also referred to as alpiste, is a protein-packed crop that attracts small wild birds. Packed with antioxidants and essential fatty acids – including vitamins C and E as well as beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin – they provide essential fatty acids. Furthermore, canary seeds provide 0.47 mg/g beta-sitosterol; their high levels of soluble fibre helps lower cholesterol levels further reducing risks related to heart disease.
Saskatchewan is home to the world’s leading producer and exporter of canary seed, widely used in bird feed mix formulations for caged and wild birds alike. Canary seeds are relatively easy to cultivate and harvest with excellent moisture tolerance; however, their hairy exterior may cause skin or eye irritation during handling; thus leading to Crop Development Centre research on creating an “itchless” variety known as Alpiste which has no silica content whatsoever – this makes for easier harvesting!
