Bird feeder owners usually fill their feeders, platforms or hanging cages with at least one variety of wild bird seed. These nutrient-rich seeds contain protein, fats, carbohydrates, calcium, iron and other trace nutrients.
People frequently include nyjer in their birdfeeder mix for songbirds like goldfinches, finches, and other small songbirds. Millet can provide protein and fiber benefits to finches, sparrows, juncos, and other species as well.
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Sunflower Seed
Sunflower seeds are among the most beloved offerings for attracting wild birds, providing just the right combination of calories and fats to keep birds warm throughout winter and easily digestible for baby birds during nesting season.
Sunflower seeds make an excellent snack or addition to side dishes for their protein, fiber and heart-healthy fat content. Plus, they’re an excellent source of Vitamin E and Zinc!
Black oil or striped sunflower seeds will draw buntings, cardinals, chickadees, finches, nuthatches and woodpeckers to your bird feeders. Simply add these seeds to any feeder – be it hopper, tube or platform. Due to having no shell they spoil quickly when exposed to wet conditions and may clog your feeders if left out too long; therefore they’re often mixed in with other seeds or suet pellets for best results; alternatively you could also use these seeds make homemade suet using these seeds!
Nyjer Seed
Many people refer to this black seed as “thistle seed”, placing it at feeders for finches, but its proper name is actually “nyjer”, registered with the Wild Bird Feeding Institute as its trademark. Grown in Ethiopia and India, nyjer is imported directly into North America where it undergoes heat treatment upon entry to prevent sprouting into noxious weeds here.
Nyjer seed is often included in finch mixes to attract these birds, with shorter beaks being better equipped for reaching these small seeds. A high-fat oil seed, it offers increased nutrition to finches. Best served in either a finch tube or mesh sock feeder; freshness is of key importance here as finches will avoid eating moldy or stale-looking nyjer seeds!
Finch mixes typically feature fine sunflower chips, an easy and nutritious treat that attracts finches and other small songbirds. Sunflower chips provide extra energy boost for these hardworking birds!
Canary Grass Seed
Seeds are an excellent source of protein, boasting enzymes that aid in maintaining a healthy body weight, lowering blood pressure and fighting constipation. Furthermore, these seeds have anti-arterioschlorosis effects by helping reduce fat deposits on veins and arteries and stimulating liver, pancreas, kidney function, as well as helping manage diabetes. In addition, their anti-inflammatory properties make them effective against stomach inflammations, gastritis symptoms as well as all sorts of digestive discomfort – while its high content of tryptophan creates a relaxing effect as well.
Reed canary grass has proven itself as an ideal candidate for wetland restoration and reclamation projects, providing reliable results when planting either by broadcast or drill seeding. It thrives best during spring and fall planting when soil conditions are cool and moist for best establishment results.
Annual canarygrass thrives under similar climatic and soil conditions to those found in wheat fields, responding well to nitrogen fertilizers similarly to spring-sown grains but lodging can become an issue on poor soils.
Corn
Corn is native to North America and attracts numerous bird species, such as bluebirds, chickadees and cardinals. Other songbirds such as wrens, nuthatches and grosbeaks also love feeding on this seed source; for optimal results use a feeder with perches for hanging birds.
Corn seed germinates differently than most grain seeds; unlike others, which require heat for germination. When pollen falls on silks of a corn plant, it crosses with female genetic material and produces kernels. Corn develops gradually through stages including blister, milk, dough, dent and physiological maturity.
Feeders that offer shelled sunflower seeds may waste seed due to squirrels and grackles consuming the empty shells, leading to piles of wet, unsanitary bird food contaminated with dangerous bacteria. To avoid these issues, invest in quality mixes containing cracked corn instead, which will also save costs by providing your birds with healthier snacks.
