Feeding Wild Birds
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.... There are many bird feeds on the market. Both single bird feed types and mixes are readily available at local supermarkets, garden supply stores and livestock supply stores. |
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The mix you select will
influence the variety and quantity of native
and foreign wild birds that feed in your
yard and gardens. This data is based on more than seven hundred thousand observations conducted in California, Maryland, Maine and Ohio. |
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In this study, striped black
sunflower and white millet were the standards used . The
rest of the feeds were offered at experimental tables
together with one or two of the standards in order to
gauge the feeds' attractiveness. This study was done under the supervision of the Wildlife Urban Research Program of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  Many birds are actually generalists and
will eat a variety of foods. Offering foods that are known to entice birds you would like to see, and attracting wild bird species that you desire will will often produce the results you desire. Birds that eat seeds are usually attracted to sunflower seeds. The sunflower seed that is found most attractive is the black-oil type. Another bird feed is millet. Smaller birds, such as sparrows are attracted to white millet. Bird feeds that are quite unattractive to wild bird species are rape and flax. Peanut hearts attract starlings. |
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If you want to discourage cowbirds or house sparrows, safflower
seed is the feed to try. All in all, wild bird feeding is easy as long as you are prepared to go the extra mile with effort to attract the birds you want and repel those you do not want. |
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