Mar 17, 2016 | Featured Web Article

Bird Feeding Tip: Try Sunflower Hearts

Sunflower hearts may be more expensive, but they last longer at a backyard feeder—and they are more accessible to birds with weaker bills.
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If I were to pick only one food to offer at my feeding station, it would be sunflower hearts. Yes, they're expensive, but a bag of sunflower hearts (no shells, just the meat of the seed) lasts more than three times as long as a bag of seeds with shells. Not only this, but every species that comes to my feeding station eats them. Being hull-less, hearts are accessible to weaker-billed birds, like siskins, redpolls and Carolina wrens. Goldfinches love them, too.

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About Bill Thompson, III

Bill Thompson, III, was the team captain for Watching Backyard Birds from its inception 23 years ago through his death on March 25, 2019. So much of what he wrote is timeless and remains informative, helpful, and inspiring.

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  • Re: On Thistle and Goldfinches in Winter » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    I’ve been enjoying goldfinches eating coneflower/ echinacea seeds in my new pollinator garden! I will leave the plants out all winter for them if the seeds keep that long? Or should I deadhead and put them in a dry area? Im in CT and thought they migrated, but didn’t know they put in winter coats! What do they eat in winter without bird feeders?
    by Anne Sheffield, Sat, 04 Sep 2021
  • Re: Ask Birdsqatch: Feeder Marauders » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    Hi Gary, I will pass your question along to Birdsquatch next time I see him. He knows infinitely more about nocturnal wildlife than I do. Where do you live? That's pretty important in figuring out the answer. But the thief could be raccoons, deer, or flying squirrels. Do you live in the woods? Are there trees near your feeder, or must the culprit climb a shepherd's hook or pole? Dawn Hewitt, Watching Backyard Birds
    by Dawn Hewitt, Mon, 30 Aug 2021
  • Re: How Much Seed in a Pound of Seed? » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    This breaks my heart. God strengthen your spirit and comfort your heart.I am fortunate to be taking a vacation next month, hopefully before sky high inflation hits and I can no longer afford it.
    by Ironweeds, Fri, 27 Aug 2021
  • Re: Ask Birdsqatch: Feeder Marauders » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    What is emptying my jelly feeder overnight.
    by Gary Vandervest, Wed, 25 Aug 2021
  • Re: Ask Birdsquatch: Angry Birds! » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    Thank you, Dawn. I'm close enough to Ohio (Ann Arbor, Michigan) that I went ahead and took my tubes down and scoured clean all my bird baths. I won't put up my tubes this winter, just my trays and safflower only just to keep the bullies away for a while.
    by Pat Moore, Mon, 09 Aug 2021