It's a billion dollar industry.

Yep, almost 30% of Americans and Canadians feed and care for birds.

That number jumps to 50% plus in Great Britain (go UK). and other parts of Europe.

Feeding wild birds conjures images of Northern cardinals, grosbeaks, American Goldfinches, and nuthatches flocking to your back yard or patio.

You are not far from the truth.

Offering fresh, high-quality seed stands out as one of the best ways to attract birds, but you must select the right types of seed.

Recent studies conducted at the University of Wisconsin and Penn State University prove conclusively that even the most feeder-habituated birds forage for 75 to 80 percent of their diet.

Researchers placed feeders in wooded areas and where birds forage.

Students then put bands on a core group of chickadees and other birds.

Knowing how much a bird needed to survive, Professors and students waited and watched their target group.

Even in a birds environment, the birds fed on the free offerings only 20 to 25 percent of their required needs.

The question, then, is no longer to feed or not to feed but what to feed?

How does one attract the seed-snubbing birds?

What is proper cuisine to attract desired avian friends?

By the same token, birds remember patches of low quality seed and are not likely to return if they have a bad feeding experience.

Learn about seeds that birds in your area prefer and always offer the best quality in your feeders.

Geographical location will dictate what birds you get most of the time. I can't expect to see roadrunners or scrub jays in Michigan and folks in Washington state can't expect Northern cardinals.

What attractions or protection you have in your yard will dictate how many birds and will they stop or hang around. Some prime examples are, water and trees or shrubs.

What types of feed or seed you offer them can also make a huge difference in quantity and quality.

We'll start with types of bird feed or seeds today.

If I had only one choice of feed for my birds, it would be Black oil sunflower seeds.

Black oilers are the most popular choice among birds and people that really want to feed the birds.

You can't go wrong with these oil rich morsals.

Feeding birds sunflowers

Feeding birds peanuts is growing rapidly in popularity.

Peanuts come in the shell and as splits or rejects out of the shell. they attract a variety of birds from jays, nuthatches, to woodpeckers.

High octane peanuts, a great food source for many birds

Safflower seeds are growing in popularity as a bird feeding and squirrel deterrent. The thing is with safflower seeds, birds will eat them sometimes but its not high on their list. Squirrels, in time they will get used to them if they have to.

Learn more about Safflower, the Other Seed

Feeding birds has become such a specialty, that we import "Nyjer" seeds from countries like India and Ethiopia. This is a large reason why it costs so much. In fact, "Nyjer" is the only item imported as a source of feed for the birds.

Why nyjer isn't a thistle and why finches love it.

millet and cracked corn are great for ground scratching birds like juncos and doves.

Feeding birds made easy.

I've also discovered that when house sparrows become a problem at my feeders, they prefer to peck away at the millet or corn I sprinkle away from my main feeding stations.

While feeding birds, we go to great lengths to please our feathered friends.

So much so, that we offer up sugar water in special feeders. We tempt birds with other delights like fruits and jellies.

What ever you do, don't forget suet cakes, (birds need grit) and other treats we buy or make.

Yes, we can go all out or bend over backwards to feed our avian neighbors.

Be sure to read the tidbits on sunflowers, peanuts, Nyjer and other feed and seed.

By learning more about feeding birds, you can make a choice on what birds you want to feed and what feed your birds prefer.

Feeding birds is more then seeds.

You need to mix in some flowers to attract insects.

How about a few fruit baring shrubs or trees?

Look around you and what other yards or parks offer.

Don't forget some fresh water.

Birds get thirsty too.

Offer birds treats and suets, suet is sure to attract birds you may not have otherwise.

Entertaining and news worthy.

Sign up for your FREE newsletter.

Enter your search terms Submit search form

Web www.gardening-for-wildlife.com