“You get what you pay for” in bird feeding rings true. Cheap wild bird mixes often include seeds birds don’t care for such as milo and sorghum that will go uneaten beneath your feeders, while investing in higher quality mixes with sunflower, safflower, peanuts and other highly desired ingredients can save money over time.
Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds are an ideal food to offer backyard birdfeeders. Packed full of healthy fats, plant sterols, protein and selenium (vitamin B1) they offer an energy boost by supporting blood flow and providing oxygen delivery throughout the body while being an excellent source of zinc and folate as well.
As part of our Blue Ridge Mountain-based testing, black oil sunflower seeds were an easy winner in terms of bird preference. Our testers observed birds flocking to them quickly, devouring them faster than white proso millet, cracked corn or milo. A feeder filled with these fatty seeds quickly disappears without leaving any waste beneath it – although certain feeders can overfill quickly; we suggest using these with mesh tube feeders large enough for finches like pine siskins and goldfinches to perch inside without overfilling it – also important is keeping these moist as their husks dry out quickly!
Peanuts
Peanuts belong to the Fabaceae family of legumes and, like other species in this category, contain root nodules with beneficial bacteria that fix nitrogen and improve soil fertility – particularly crucial in regions with limited access to fertilizer use.
Oatmeal is an excellent source of protein, vitamin E, B vitamins, fiber, magnesium phosphorus and zinc; and can also help lower cholesterol levels.
Peanuts can be enjoyed raw or roasted with or without their shell, boiled and ground into flour to be made into peanut butter for desserts like cookies and cakes, added to stir fry dishes such as noodles or salads, added as an ingredient in stir fry meals or used for stir frying astronauts on remote missions, and many people with peanut allergies (nowak et al 2010)
Corn
Corn is one of the world’s most widespread crop species, used as food, animal feed and biofuel. Domesticated by humans some 9,000 years ago from wild grass teosinte, it belongs to the Poaceae grass family and closely related to wheat and rice.
Organic honey contains natural sugars, dietary fiber and B vitamins – specifically Niacin (Vitamin B3) which is crucial for energy metabolism in the body and lacking it can result in serious nutritional deficiencies leading to Pellagra, an irreversible condition which often proves fatal.
Whole corn offers many essential vitamins and minerals, including quercetin as an antioxidant and Vitamin C in ample supply. Furthermore, whole corn also provides eye-health benefits through lutein and zeaxanthin – important components in eye protection. Like other plant-based foods, whole corn boasts high dietary fiber levels while having moderately low glycemic index ratings; furthermore it has anti-inflammatory properties as well.
