Painted Bunting
The Intro
Most backyard enthusiast want to attract the greatest variety of birds to their outdoor space and one of the easiest ways to do that is by feeding the right seed. Some of these freeloaders will flock to a certain type of seed while others just have a quick look and move on. The seed that you put out, will depend on the time of year, the location in relation to your surrounding vegetation, the hardiness zone, the latitude and who you are looking to show up for dinner. There are several mixed blends of seeds as well as several levels of presentation. There are even special types of seed you want to avoid if you are looking to keep certain critters away.
The Staple
Almost everyone has seen the “Wild Bird Seed” at your hardware store, pet store or super store. These are perfectly good to purchase for almost all locations of North America. These are the blends of seeds that most appeal to the largest variety of birds. They are relatively inexpensive but also have some drawbacks. Most of these blends are based with White Millet, Red Millet, Sun Flower Seeds, Milo with some other dried items like peanuts, cracked corn and safflower. The first reason they aren't the best seed is sometimes the seed is too general. Some birds will sift through looking for what they want and toss the unwanted seed on the ground causing waste and potential mold issues. There are several types of seeds in this mix that are usually considered filler, like Red Millet that are rarely eaten. Also, a good many of these blends have striped sunflower instead of black oil sunflower. The smaller black sunflower is the preferred seed by birds as it has the better mixture of protein and fat that keep the birds healthy. The last reason is that you may not be attracting the birds that you really want.
The Variety Show
There is a great deal of seed types that we list here to allow you to familiarize yourself with Each.
The List of Dinner Guests
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Each Bird will be attracted to several types of seed. Bellow, you will find a list of those 10 most common birds seen at feeders and the seeds they like. There is a top 10 lists of Birds East of the Rockies and one for West of the Rockies tabulated from the Great Backyard Bird Count info.
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Mourning dove
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Eastern Freeloaders
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Eastern Freeloaders
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Western Freeloaders
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The Dangers
Feeding birds seed is a wonderful way to help sustain birds, especially during the winter season. There are responsibilities that come along with the feeding. One is that you must keep the feeders clean as birds are susceptible to certain sicknesses that come with neglected feeders. Here are a couple of very important things to look for in your feed. Make sure that your feeder is free of wet seed as this will certainly start mold growing in the corners of your feeder. Mold is damaging to a bird’s health. The best way to avoid something like this is to have regular cleaning schedule for your feeders and to inspect feeders when filling them up. If you live and area that is dry or cold for a portion of the year you can increase the length of time between cleanings. Another idea is to keep the area below your feeders somewhat clear of too much seed or shells from piling up.
The Finish
Feeding birds can bring color, action and smiles to your outside living space and the most simple way is to feed them. Seeds are just one type of food that will keep your songbirds coming back. The type of seed will make an enormous difference in which birds visit your space and how many. And once you have attracted them, it’s important to know what you are feeding to whom, to keep them coming back. Keep things fresh and your freeloading visitors will stay happy and healthy.
