Novices need to choose the right seeds to attract birds

an you imagine what it would be like going into Schnucks for the first time if you were from a Third World country?

Even if you could read English, how would you even begin to comprehend and catalogue the tremendous variety of foods on their shelves? I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the different Campbell's soup labels. The aisle with breakfast cereals is mind-boggling. I would be so overwhelmed that I would probably just go home and forget about buying food. How would I make good decisions on what to buy?

I have seen novice bird-feeding enthusiasts overwhelmed in the same way. They really don't know where to start when trying to decide which bird feed to start with. Therefore, I thought I would try to walk through you through the bird-feed aisle.

If you are a novice, buy a bird feeder that will handle black oil sunflower seed. Whether it is a hopper or a tube feeder makes no difference.

This seed is packed with lots of energy because of its high oil content, and most backyard songbirds will be attracted to it. In fact, if you only want to use one feed in your feeder, this is the one. I have seen nuthatches, juncos, chickadees, cardinals, blue jays, song sparrows, finches and woodpeckers, among others, enjoying a noon repast at the feeder in our front yard.

You can increase the number of birds that come to your back yard by also placing some of the seeds on the ground or on a platform, where juncos, cardinals and doves prefer to feed.

If you want to expand to other feeds, add a thistle feeder. Thistle, or Nyger, is a small seed that attracts goldfinches and house finches. A special tube or sock feeder is a must, or else this small seed will flow out of feeders designed for dispensing black oil sunflower or seed mixes.

Perhaps the next addition to your bird-feeding menu should be a suet cake. Woodpeckers are primarily insect eaters, so they are naturally attracted to suet cakes. Although I have often seen woodpeckers at black oil sunflower feeders, they will certainly appreciate the addition to the menu.

Bluebirds, thrushes and robins seldom come to feeders because they are primarily insect feeders in the spring, summer and fall. In the winter, they survive on seeds and berries. To attract them during the winter, try putting up a fruit feeder. Place apple or orange halves or slices on these feeders. You might be surprised to see who comes to dinner.

If you live in an area where quail are present, place some whole kernel or cracked corn on the ground around your feeders. Mourning doves will also accept the invitation for a free meal.

There are several commercial mixes of bird feed that may include milo, millet, wheat, sunflower, corn and vegetable oil. There is nothing wrong with these feeds, but I have usually found that most birds kick out the millet, wheat, milo and sometimes the corn just to get to the black oil sunflower. Often much of the feed is wasted.

If you have a lot of trouble with starlings, house sparrows or squirrels at your feeder, then use only safflower seeds. This seed is a favorite of cardinals and other songbirds but discourages these avian and mammalian pests.

I hope this has taken some of the mystery out of bird feeding. It is not really rocket science. Just start with a black oil sunflower feeder, and then expand from there. The birds in your back yard may have different tastes than those dining at your neighbor's, so just do some experimenting.

Happy birding!

Send your gardening and landscape questions to Paul Schnare at P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699 or by e-mail to news@semissourian.com.