As interesting as the final results of a project such as a bird studio are, I’m always equally fascinated by the things I learn along the way. This project has been especially enlightening in little ways. For instance, bird feed. I always assumed that bird feed was bird feed – that there really wasn’t much difference between the kinds you offer.
Guess again. It turns out that the whole feed issue is much more complicated that you’d think! At least, it’s more complicated if you’re the sort of person who cares to take the time to do things right. If you’d rather go the quick, cheap, lazy route, then you might as well stop reading now.
It seems that beyond the obvious (what kinds of birds will eat the feed you buy), there are two main considerations that many people likely overlook. The first consideration is in regards to the health of the birds, and has to do with food that is left in the feeder too long, gets moist, and becomes ridden with bacteria and fungus that will sicken and even kill birds. In fact, the overall recommendation seems to be filling your feeder with a two-day quantity of food; anything left after two days needs to be throw away, the feeder cleaned, then fresh food added.
When you think about it, this makes sense – it’s not like seed appears in piles in the woods. It comes directly from plants, and rarely ends up accumulating in quantities, or lasting long enough, to become a danger to the wildlife.
The second consideration has to do with what kinds of birds will eat a particular kind of feed that shouldn’t be. Here I’m talking of nuisance birds: cowbirds, crows, house sparrows, and starlings, all of which are species that are already overpopulated due foods provided by humans. If these nuscence species are abundant, it’s best to find another food that they don’t care for, otherwise they’ll empty your feeders, and the cycle continues.
Pennington Black Oil Sunflower Seed
Based on my area and reading, sunflower seeds seemed to be the best bet, so I went out and bought a bag. It’s the Pennington brand again, since that’s what the store had, ironically enough. And since my feeder pole has accessory arms, I purchased “Finch Sock” as well – a mesh bag filled with thistle seeds. I also bought a plastic tub to keep extra feed in, although I simply place the bag inside the tub and seal it, rather than pouring it in. Storing feed this way keeps it protected from the elements (not that my closet is a prime spot for the elements to congregate), but more importantly it keeps pests – bugs and rodents – away.
Finch Sock - thistle seed
Frankly I don’t know what to make of the Pennington Seed’s statement that the sunflower seeds are enriched with “vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to help provide wild birds with a more balanced diet.” Do birds currently have unbalanced diets? Are they eating too many potato chips and mini-pizzas? Off the cuff, it sounds like marketing hype to me, but I’m willing to go with it – doesn’t seem like it could hurt any.
A few other things to consider:
– Fillers: milo, oats, and wheat are often used as fillers in cheap bird feed, when most birds won’t eat it to begin with. It ends up getting tossed onto the ground, where it can attract rodents. Better to buy feed without it.
- Peanuts: turns out that a number of birds enjoy whole or crushed peanuts, including jays, woodpeckers, chickadees, and more. Peanuts only last a day or two before they become a bacteria/fungus risk, and they do tend to attract squirrels, raccoons, and even bears, so put them out infrequently, or with caution.
- Fruit: many birds eat fruit; if you’ve ever been hiking during berry season, you’ve probably seen this firsthand. So it makes sense that putting putting out dried fruit that’s been soaked in water overnight will appeal to birds. Again, this is something that only lasts a day or so before going bad. (If you have fresh fruit growing nearby, all the better! I have a pair of mulberry bushes near my feeder, which I already know attract the birds in the spring.)
