[AG-EQ] Feeding Wild Birds & Homemade Suet

Mon Jun 8 13:36:02 UTC 2020

Finches also love coneflower seeds.  Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a native flower that grows very well in the U.S.  Don't know about New Zealand.  It has big flowers sort of like sunflowers, with ray petals around a central cone.  I leave the cones, and the finches come and peck out the seeds.
Coneflower spreads a bit, but isn't aggressive, at least here in NJ, Zone 7A.
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: AG-EQ [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of dogwood farm via AG-EQ
Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2020 10:03 AM
To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
Cc: dogwood farm
Subject: Re: [AG-EQ] Feeding Wild Birds & Homemade Suet

Hi Jewel,

No, not that kind of thistle.  LOL  Here is what I found.

About Nyjer
Nyjer is a small, thin, black seed from the African yellow daisy
(Guizotia abyssinica).
Though it is not related to the thistle plant, Nyjer is often referred
to casually as
"thistle seed." High in oil, it is a nutritious source of energy for
backyard birds and is
one of the most popular types of birdseed.

NYJER SEED - OR THISTLE SEED FOR FINCHES
Nyjer seed resembles small grains of wild rice and is highly desirable
by many finches for its high fat and protein content. Nyjer has
another name, thistle, which sometimes alarms people. Many people
think they will be growing thistle weeds in their yard if they offer
this seed. On the contrary, nyjer is not a thistle at all. It's the
seed of the nyjer plant
native to Ethiopia.

Nyjer seed sold as birdseed is heated to prevent it from germinating.
Nyjer seed is very
small and expensive, and should be presented in special thistle
feeders. Goldfinches, house finches, purple finches, towhees, pine
siskins, juncos, mourning doves and many sparrows gobble up thistle
seed presented at backyard feeding stations.

Susan

On 6/6/20, Jewel via AG-EQ <ag-eq at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> Susan!  I may be asking a question here that you might find difficult to
> answer.
> When the article says "Thistle"  what is meant by this?  The only thistles I
> know are:  Scotch,
> Nodding and stinging:  all of which I wouldn't touch with the oft-mentioned
> 40 foot barge pole!
>
>          Jewel
>
> From: "dogwood farm via AG-EQ" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2020 1:03 AM
> To: "Agricultural and Equestrean Division List" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: "dogwood farm" <dogwoodfarm62 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [AG-EQ] Feeding Wild Birds & Homemade Suet
>
> Feeding Wild Birds & Homemade Suet
> from:  Bramblewood Farm
>
> feeding wild birdsWe enjoy feeding wild birds all year long and
> fortunately, we have a
>
> window seat overlooking a protected nook that’s perfect for observing
> them from the inside.
>
> It’s particularly helpful to feed them during the colder months when
> there are fewer seeds
>
> and berries available for the wild birds.
>
> What To Feed Wild Birds:
> Each species of bird has different seed preferences, so the type of
> seed offered can be
>
> customized to attract specific birds:
>
> Cracked corn – cardinals, doves, grosbeaks, sparrows
> Black Oil Sunflower or Sunflower – many birds
> Peanuts – blue jays, nuthatches, titmice, woodpeckers, wrens
> Thistle – finches
> Safflower – cardinals, chickadees, grosbeaks, nuthatches
> White Millet – cardinals, doves, juncos, towhees, sparrows
>
> For feeders, we look for sturdy models that are easy to fill and clean
> (and that are
>
> designed for dispensing the type of seed we’re planning on feeding).
> We’ve found that models
>
> from Audubon and Droll Yankee have worked well for us – they sometimes
> seem a bit pricier
>
> than other brands but they’ve lasted for years.
>
> Addition to seed, suet is an important food for bird species that
> depend on insects for
>
> food, such as woodpeckers. The suet supplies carbohydrates and energy
> they need to survive
>
> the cold weather. Here’s the recipe we make each year for the suet feeder:
>
> Peanut Butter Suet
> Ingredients:
> 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
> 2 cups "quick cook" oatmeal
> 2 cups cornmeal
> 1-1/2 cups lard
> 1 cup white flour
> 1/3 cup sugar
>
> Instructions:
> 1. Melt the peanut butter and lard together in a pan over low heat,
> then mix in the
>
> remaining ingredients (while still on low heat).
>
> 2. Press the mixture into a square or rectangular cake pan so that the
> mix is about 1 inch
>
> thick (or the thickness of your suet feeder.
>
> 3. Freeze for an hour, and then cut into squares that will fit your feeder.
>
> Recipe Notes:
> Store extra suet squares in the freezer (separated by wax paper) until
> ready to use.
>
> We also enjoy observing bluebirds on the farm, but have never been
> very successful at
>
> attracting them to the feeders. That’s because we fill our feeders
> with seed. If you want to
>
> attract bluebirds to your feeders, it’s generally necessary to stock
> the feeders with
>
> currants, raisins, or other bits of dried fruit
>
> Of course, you’ll likely attract other critters to your feeders and it
> can be a battle to
>
> keep feeding just the wild birds.
>
> Feeding wild birds the type of seed they prefer is an easy way to
> bring whatever species of
>
> bird you enjoy observing into your yard. They’re colorful, beautiful,
> and we can spend hours
>
> watching their antics!
>
> Susan
> dogwoodfarm62 at gmail.com
>
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