Top-Notch Avian Diet 2025: Nourish Ravenous Aviary Stomachs

Top-Notch Avian Diet 2025: Nourish Ravenous Aviary Stomachs

In the quest to create a thriving avian community in your backyard, Dr. Rebecca MacMillan offers some expert advice on bird food choices and feeder strategies.

For a diverse bird population, it's essential to offer a mix of foods that cater to various species' preferences. Black oil sunflower seeds, for instance, are a top pick for birds like black-capped chickadees, northern cardinals, house finches, tufted titmice, and nuthatches. These seeds are nutritious, easy to crack, and high in oil content, making them a favourite among many feathered friends.

Suet products, available in various forms, also attract a wide range of birds. Suet cakes and balls are versatile and can be used with different feeders, while suet plugs and nuggets, often placed vertically or on tree trunks, are favourites among woodpeckers, small songbirds, nuthatches, and chickadees. Fruit-based and nut- and seed-based suet options are also available, catering to the specific dietary needs of birds like robins, bluebirds, and orioles.

Seed blends, including millet and black oil sunflower seeds, attract colorful birds and are suitable for general backyard feeding. For finches specifically, mixes containing shelled sunflower seeds and Nyjer seed provide high protein and fat for energetic small birds.

Insect-based wild bird food, containing black soldier fly larvae, dehydrated mealworms, and dried darkling beetles, is a natural and nutritious option, primarily found in a bag of sunflower kernels and sunflower seeds. This mix is all-natural, with no artificial preservatives or additives, and has been based on research to attract birds.

To keep squirrels out of your bird feeder, consider placing feeders on poles equipped with squirrel baffles, hanging feeders from thin wires or branches too slender for squirrels to traverse, using squirrel-proof feeders, avoiding placing feeders near trees or structures squirrels can jump from, limiting spillage, and using safflower seeds, which squirrels generally dislike.

The fruit and nut blend, including peanuts, mixed feed nuts, raisins, dried cherries, and fruit pieces, along with sunflower, safflower, and hulled pumpkin seeds, provides a high amount of energy, with 14% protein, 30.5% crude fat, and 14% fiber.

Remember, a clean supply of water is crucial for wild birds, not just for drinking, but also for bathing. A large shallow bird bath or dish is preferable for wild birds to bathe in and drink from. Regularly cleaning the bird bath helps to avoid algae and bird droppings from contaminating the water.

Lastly, storing bird seed mixes properly can prevent them from drying out. The seed mix contains sunflower kernels, pistachio, almond, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, and white proso millet. The resealable bag of dried mealworms can attract bluebirds, wrens, robins, cardinals, woodpeckers, and chickadees. The suet balls provide an abundance of protein and energy, are suitable for winter, and do not contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

By combining these food choices with strategic feeder placement and squirrel deterrents, you can maximise bird diversity at your feeders while minimising squirrel interference. Happy birdwatching!

1. Cats and dogs, as popular pets, require careful care for their health, just as birds do in their diet and lifestyle.
2. A diverse pet population also needs a mix of foods catering to different species' preferences, such as cat food, dog food, or fish food.
3. In the realm of fashion-and-beauty, there are numerous options for pampering beloved pets with stylish collars, leashes, or birdhouses.
4. When it comes to nutrition, a high-quality pet food and drink mix, filled with nutritious ingredients, can support a pet's health and longevity.
5. For bird lovers, home-and-garden improvements like birdhouses, feeders, and bird baths can create a welcoming environment for a varied bird population.
6. Travelling with pets requires careful planning to ensure their comfort, happiness, and nutrition while on the road, whether in a pet-friendly hotel or during road trips with a pet carrier.
7. Before leaving home for a trip, it's essential to shop for travel essentials like a water bowl, portable food container, and specific treats that cats, dogs, or birds might enjoy.
8. Sports enthusiasts can engage in various activities with pets, such as dog agility training, bird watching nature walks, or even adopting a pet turtle to join in a field cricket match.

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