CHOOSING THE RIGHT SEED

Most of the birds that regularly visit BLACK OIL SUNFLOWER NYJER (THISTLE) feeding stations are somewhat oppor- tunistic feeders. This means that while Black-capped Chickadee *Goldfinch Evening Grosbeak *Pine Siskin they may prefer certain seeds or oth- House Finch House Finch er foods, they will eat less preferred Northern Cardinal Purple Finch items in the absence of their preferred Purple Finch Dark-eyed Junco foods. However, because of their ability White-breasted Nuthatch Song Sparrow to move freely from one feeder to an- White-crowned Sparrow White-throated Sparrow other in a neighborhood, the birds will White-throated Sparrow Blue Jay usually spend more time and occur Dark-eyed Junco WHITE MILLET in greater numbers at feeders stocked Goldfinch *Dark-eyed Junco with their preferred foods. Mourning Dove *House Sparrow Pine Siskin *Mourning Dove Although it is not possible to create Redpoll *Song Sparrow blends of seeds to attract only a certain Song Sparrow *Tree Sparrow Tufted Titmouse species or to exclude another species, *White-crowned Sparrow Woodpeckers — most *White-throated Sparrow having a mix with the seeds appeal- European Starling ing to the birds you hope to attract is STRIPED SUNFLOWER Northern Cardinal important. All birds and wildlife must Pine Siskin eat. However, whether they eat at your *Blue Jay *Red-bellied Woodpecker feeder is, to some degree, controllable. CRACKED CORN For example, while breads and other Black-capped Chickadee Evening Grosbeak pastry products can be used to supple- *European Starling House Finch *House Sparrow ment your seed mixes, they should be Northern Cardinal *Mourning Dove crumbled into fine pieces to avoid at- Purple Finch *Pheasant tracting the American Crow and Euro- Tufted Titmouse American Crow pean Starling. On the other hand, larg- White-breasted Nuthatch Blue Jay er pieces of bread and food scraps may White-crowned Sparrow Brown Thrasher be used to attract crows and starlings, White-throated Sparrow Northern Cardinal Red-bellied Woodpecker as well as raccoons, opossums, and the SUNFLOWER HEARTS Tree Sparrow like. It depends upon what you enjoy. White-throated Sparrow *Black-capped Chickadee Listed here are the various seeds that *Pine Siskin have been included in this year’s seed Carolina Wren PEANUT PIECES mixes. Bird species which utilize each Goldfinch *Blue Jay House Finch type of seed are listed. Species with Black-capped Chickadee Mourning Dove Tufted Titmouse a strong preference for that seed are Northern Cardinal White-breasted Nuthatch shown in BOLD print with an asterisk. White-throated Sparrow Woodpeckers — most After noting which feeder species favor which seeds, select on the order form SAFFLOWER those mixes that seem right for your *Northern Cardinal needs. We believe that all of the mixes Blue Jay are very good with minimal waste. Of Black-capped Chickadee course, we think “Our Own Mix” is the House Finch best! Mourning Dove Red-bellied Woodpecker Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch