Thistle For Birds

Juli 25, 2024 Posting Komentar

Thistle for birds

Nyjer seed (also referred to as Nyger or thistle), is a small, black seed high in oil content, making it an excellent source of energy for the birds who eat it. Many birders choose to offer Nyjer in their bird feeders throughout the winter months since many non-migratory birds feed on the nutritious seed.

How do you feed thistle seeds to birds?

Pour the thistle into the stocking. Until it's about three to four inches. High. Then take the

Do finches prefer thistle or nyjer seed?

Nyjer Seed (aka niger seed or thistle seed) is a teeny-tiny, high-oil content seed (~40%) mostly favored by finches and siskins.

Is there a difference between thistle seed and Nyjer seed?

Nyjer seed is NOT thistle. The seed is not derived from any native or non-native thistle plant; but instead, the Nyjer seed is actually derived from a plant in the same plant tribe as sunflowers. The seed resembles a sunflower seed but is significantly smaller.

What is the healthiest seed for birds?

Black oil sunflower seed is considered the best all-around for feeding birds. Photo by Susan Spear/Cornell Lab. The seed that attracts the widest variety of birds, and so the mainstay for most backyard bird feeders, is sunflower.

What birds prefer thistle seed?

“Although it can be expensive, Nyjer, or thistle, seed is eagerly consumed by all the small finches—goldfinches, house, purple, and Cassin's finches, pine siskins, and redpolls,” says Thompson.

Why won t birds eat thistle?

But its oily nature also causes it to dry out AND LOSE ITS ATTRACTIVENESS TO BIRDS. Birds will turn their beaks to old nyjer seed. Avoid waste by only purchasing nyjer in a quantity you'll use in a month or two. Nyjer seed used to be called thistle, but it is not the noxious thistle weed we see growing on roadsides.

Can you put thistle in a tube feeder?

Clear plastic tube feeders for thistle are similar to other tube-style seed feeders. However this type of thistle feeder uses very small dispensing holes so that the thistle (niger seed) does not fall out easily. Instead, the small finches that eat this birdseed pull the seed out of each dispensing hole. What is this?

Can you put nyjer seed in a regular bird feeder?

Because of its small size, most seed feeders aren't suitable, as the seed will just fall out of the holes. We recommend purchasing a pre-filled Niger Seed feeder to start off with so your birds can get used to it.

Why are birds not eating nyjer seed?

Nancy Castillo, co-owner of the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Saratoga Springs, New York, and author of the blog Zen Birdfeeder, points out that Nyjer contains natural high-calorie oils that attract finches. When the oils dry out, the seed loses both its food value and its flavor, and birds shun it.

When should I put out thistle for finches?

Since finches do not migrate, you can put out thistle seeds anytime. If you notice finches in your neighborhood during winter and want to attract them in your yard and take care of them when the weather gets colder, you can put out a thistle feeder right away.

When should I put out nyjer seed?

For many birders, offering Nyjer in the winter is the best option, as many seed-eating birds are year-round residents but natural seed supplies are scarce in winter, so thistle seed feeders will be more popular.

Do birds crack open nyjer seed?

Nyjer for finches. Nyjer is a tiny seed which goldfinches will crack open to eat the edible interior; squirrels and rats are generally not interested in this seed.

Will squirrels eat thistle seed?

Squirrels (generally speaking) don't eat thistle seed, but mice do. Be sure that you don't allow thistle seed to reach the ground either. Safflower Seed. Safflower seeds are not enjoyed by squirrels, but mice do enjoy.

Why is thistle seed so expensive?

It's one of the more expensive seeds due to the transport costs from tropical regions and because it is heat sterilized to kill weed seeds such as Dodder that is present in many Niger seed harvests.

What should you not feed wild birds?

Birds should not be offered many of the foods humans eat.

Bread (fresh or stale): provides no real nutritional value for birds; moldy bread can harm birds.
Chocolate: toxic to birds, just as it is to dogs and cats (it contains theobromine); never offer birds any foods containing chocolate.

What is the best food to put out for wild birds?

Black oil sunflower seed appeals to the greatest number of birds. Offer sunflower seeds, nyjer (thistle) seeds, and peanuts in separate feeders. When using blends, choose mixtures containing sunflower seeds, millet, and cracked corn—the three most popular types of birdseed.

What bird seed attracts the most birds?

sunflower -- will attract the greatest variety of birds. Sunflower seeds are the seeds favored by most seed-eating birds, some 40 species including cardinals, tufted titmice, Carolina chickadees, house and purple finches, American goldfinches, brown-headed nuthatches, and red-bellied woodpeckers, to name a few.

What birds will eat thistle at a feeder?

Birds That Eat Thistle Seed Lure American goldfinches, pine siskins, dark-eyed juncos and chickadees with nyjer, a tiny black seed that is sometimes called thistle. Nyjer seeds come from the African yellow daisy. They have a good mix of protein, fat and fiber, so they're a good high-calorie option for winter birds.