The Simple Seed Swap That Attracts More Birds

Thanks to a stretch of bitter cold that brought ice and snow, most of us in North Texas were cooped up at home for a good bit of last week.

I am not complaining, though. After several weeks of building new garden beds, my body needed the rest. Morning coffee time stretched gloriously into a several-hour ‘do nothing’ fest. Physical activity was limited to raising and lowering my binoculars to watch the birds. 

More Time at Home, More Birds at the Feeder

The birds were the true beneficiaries of this forced staycation. No noisy leaf blowers, no cars on the road, and feeders kept filled to the brim thanks to my empty schedule.

I counted nearly ten different bird species visiting the feeders during the deep cold, many that I had never seen before. Good feeder placement helped, but the bigger factor turned out to be food choice.

Food Choice Determines Which Birds Show Up

Black oil sunflower seeds are the gold standard for filling feeders. They’re easy to find and attract a wide number of songbirds. But if your feeders only offer whole sunflower seeds, you might be missing out on many interesting bird species. 

Once I started adding sunflower hearts or chips (pieces of hulled sunflower seeds) to the feed I put out, I began to see birds that have never come to my feeders before.

The Advantage of Shell-Free Seed

Turns out, sunflower hearts attract more bird species because the shells are removed, making the calorie-dense kernels accessible to birds that cannot crack whole seeds. This allows both large and small birds to feed easily, increasing the variety of species that use the feeder.

After introducing the new mix, smaller birds appeared almost immediately, starting with the diminutive Ruby-Crowned Kinglet. Ruby-Crowned Kinglets normally feed on insects and spiders, but they are attracted to sunflower hearts during colder months when insects are scarce.

Learning to See What Was Already There

Spotting and identifying the kinglet pushed me to buy binoculars and download the Audubon app, which completely changed how I experience my own yard.

Once I started paying closer attention, I began to see so many birds that I’ve never noticed before– White Throated Sparrows hopping energetically alongside the familiar Dark-Eyed Juncos; a Brown Creeper methodically working its way up the trunk of the loblolly pine. 

Attracting Goldfinches Without Nyjer Seed

Just a few days ago, American Goldfinches started visiting my feeders for the very first time. I’ve never been able to attract them before, but it seems that the sunflower chips are a big hit with them. 

I had always assumed nyjer seed was required to attract goldfinches. Instead, I learned that sunflower hearts are often more appealing because they deliver more calories.

An Easy Upgrade for More Birds Before Winter Ends

February is National Bird Feeding month. So, if you’re interested in attracting new birds to your feeders before winter ends, look for a bird seed blend that contains sunflower hearts, or add hearts to the mix that you already use. 

I’ve been using the 3-D Pro Blends Songbird Blend and mixing in sunflower hearts. I may start to fill feeders entirely with the sunflower hearts to see what happens. 

Beyond the joy they bring, birds are a vital part of a healthy garden, helping control insect populations and contributing to pollination.

More Tips for Attracting Birds to Your North Texas Garden

1. Hang several different types of feeders.
   
   Cardinals and larger birds prefer platform (tray) feeders.
   
   Tube feeders primarily attract small, agile birds such as finches, kinglets, chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches that are comfortable clinging to narrow perches while feeding.
   
2. Set feeders near shrubs or small trees.
   
   Birds want quick cover. A feeder five to ten feet from dense vegetation is ideal.
   
3. Offer a wide variety of foods.
   
   Different bird species have different beak sizes, feeding habits, and nutritional needs, so a diverse mix attracts more birds and keeps them coming back. The 3-D Pro mix I like contains dried fruit and nuts in addition to sunflower and safflower seeds. The addition of sunflower hearts attracts smaller birds.
   
4. Provide fresh water year-round.
   
   A shallow birdbath or low dish of clean water attracts birds for drinking and bathing, and in winter it can be just as important as food, especially during freezes when natural water sources are scarce.

Learn More About Building a Garden That Supports Wildlife

To go deeper on attracting birds and other beneficial wildlife to your garden, watch our Birds, Bees, and Butterflies class. It’s available on demand for all enrolled students. Learn more about enrollment here.

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