If you want to attract a variety of birds to your backyard, try using a wild bird seed blend. These mixes have been scientifically designed with various flavors in mind so they’ll appeal to different beaked friends.
Cheaper blends often contain a large amount of filler seeds that birds will ignore or toss away, leaving behind waste on the ground that attracts less desirable scavenger birds and rodents.
Contents
Sunflower Seed
Sunflower seed provides essential protein and fat for birds during cold months when insects are scarce. Furthermore, it contains vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and fiber that can boost your immune system.
Sunflower seeds also contain antioxidants and flavonoids like heliantol, quercetin, kaempferol and luteolin that may have anti-inflammatory effects. Studies have indicated that eating more of these nutrients could lower your risk for inflammation-related health conditions such as heart disease or type 2 diabetes.
Hulled sunflower seeds, also known as chips or pellets, are a favorite among birds such as finches and sparrows. While more expensive than traditional seeds, hulled sunflower seeds don’t contain the hulls so they make for great choices in gardens where you want to reduce waste production.
Millet
Millet is a grain-like seed commonly included in birdseed blends. It provides essential protein, carbohydrates and fats that birds require for energy-building needs.
Diabetes and high cholesterol can both be managed with this fruit, as its soluble fiber helps reduce bad cholesterol in your blood while raising good cholesterol levels. Plus, it contains a significant amount of potassium – an essential mineral that supports healthy kidney and heart functioning.
Some individuals with gluten sensitivities may find millet easier to digest than other grains due to its antinutrients, which are compounds which block or minimize absorption of essential nutrients from other foods. Examples include tannins, phytates, polyphenols and trypsin inhibitors.
Dried Fruit Tenders
Dried fruit tenders are an excellent addition to your wild bird seed blend as they provide essential vitamins and energy for the birds. Plus, their variety of nutrients makes them convenient to store away for later.
Wild bird seed mixes can be enhanced with dried cranberries, raisins and other fruits. You may also try including fresh fruit or jelly in small amounts for added nutrition.
The key is only providing your birds with enough food that you know they will eat. Avoid giving out too much fruit since it contains high sugar levels that could pose health risks to your birds.
Another viable alternative is a suet feeder. This combination of fat, nuts, grains and wild bird seed remains solid when pecked by birds – providing essential nutrition during colder months. Suet feeders have become popular with many bird watchers because they provide solid sources of fats they need to stay healthy and active during these trying times.
Hi-Vitality Suet
Wild bird seed blends are formulated with various seeds and nuts to attract more birds. Common ingredients include millet, cracked corn, sunflower seed and black oil sunflower seed; these mixes can be fed year-round to encourage bird activity.
Selecting the ideal wild bird seed for your garden requires research and observation of local bird populations. This will enable you to determine which seeds are popular with birds in your area, as well as those that will keep them coming back for more.
Discount stores and big box retailers typically carry lower quality bird seed, often made of filler seeds that birds will ignore and discard. Not only does this cost you money, but it makes it difficult to attract the desired species of birds.
Hi-Vitality Suet is an upgrade from traditional animal fat suet, made with vegetable shortening to keep food fresh longer. Available as cakes, crumbles and dough to supplement or replace traditional low-value seeds.
