Thistle Bird Feeder

November 15, 2024 Post a Comment

Thistle bird feeder

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.

What birds eat from thistle feeders?

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.

Do thistles attract birds?

Hummingbirds are also attracted to these plants, because of their sweet nutritious nectar. And, after the flowers are pollinated, they produce seeds that birds like goldfinches, sparrows, juncos and buntings go crazy over.

Is thistle and Nyjer seed the same?

What is Nyjer or thistle seed? Nyjer seed, also known as niger seed or thistle seed, is a high oil content seed used frequently in backyard bird feeders to attract a variety of finches.

Do squirrels bother thistle feeders?

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.

What should you not feed outdoor 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.

Why are thistles a problem?

Spear Thistle is avoided by livestock because of its spines and overgrazing of paddocks encourages its spread. If eaten, the spines can cause damage to stock, particularly around the mouth. Dried leaves and spines can contribute to the contamination of wool fleeces which can incur a price penalty at markets.

How do I attract birds to my thistle feeder?

The key is to offer year-round nagger thistle or a combination of niger. And fine chopped sunflower

Why won't birds come to my thistle feeder?

Make sure your thistle feeder is clean and full of fresh seed. If it has been hanging out for awhile with no activity, take it down, clean it and fill with fresh seed. Don't fill it up all the way at first, use a small amount of fresh seed, then adjust as your bird activity improves.

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.

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.

Do finches eat the entire thistle seed?

Goldfinches are known to enjoy thistle plants. They eat the thistle plant seeds and use the mature thistle down in their nests during breeding season.

Does thistle seed attract rats?

Rodents aren't usually a fan of thistle seed. However not all birds enjoy it either, so this may not be a good option depending on what bird species you are hoping to attract. If you do try thistle, it's best to use a thistle feeder which is made specifically for the small shape of these seeds.

Where is the best place to put a thistle feeder?

All in all the most important place to put a Thistle/Nyjer feeder is where you can see it easily. To make sure your Thistle/Nyjer seed is fresh, pinch the seed with your fingernails and see if any oil comes out. The finches use their bills to twist the seed, sip the oil and eat the inner seed, then discard the shell.

What kind of birds eat thistle seed?

Nyjer/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.

Should I stop feeding the birds 2022?

Low Risk of Avian Flu to Songbirds. There is currently very low risk of an outbreak among wild songbirds, and no official recommendation to take down feeders unless you also keep domestic poultry, according to the National Wildlife Disease Program.

Do birds tell each other where food is?

There are also contact calls, which birds can use to talk to each other when foraging for food. So I would say yes, birds do talk and communicate where food is, in their own way.

When should you stop feeding outdoor birds?

Some people prefer not to feed birds in the spring and summer when there is abundant food. However, leaving your feeders up year-round is not a problem as long as you keep a few things in mind: If bears live near you, you should not keep feeders up during the warmer months.

Should I remove thistle?

Thistle seedlings have bristles or spines on their leaves, so as soon as you notice a seedling, pull it out before the roots are well established. Large thistles can be controlled with herbicide most effectively by spraying rosettes in late summer or early fall.

Are thistles good for anything?

Like many plants in the thistle clade of the botanical family Asteraceae, bull thistles provide ample pollen and nectar resources for butterflies, honeybees, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects like green lacewings. Birds like goldfinches and juncos love their seeds, as do white-tailed deer and rabbits.