Nyjer Seed

Asia and Africa have cultured a blackbird seed that looks like small grains of wild rice called Nyger seed. It has high calories and oil content highly desirable by many finches and other wild birds. Actually, many people have used this to feed wild birds for more than 40 years now. Many people mistake the Nyjer as niger or thistle. However, Nyjer seed is not a thistle by any means.

Birds' food includes nectar, fruit, plants, seeds and carrion. Bird's digestive system is adapted to process not chewed food that is ingested whole since they have no teeth. Generalists' birds are those who use several ways to obtain food. On the other hand, specialist birds focus their time and effort on a specific food item and has single tactic to obtain food. Birds' feeding strategies vary by species.

Why Birds Love Nyger Seed

Nyjer seed is the favorite food of most birds such as goldfinches, towhees and purple finches. Goldfinches are sociable and travel in flocks of 30 or more. They love to visit backyard feeders and the Nyjer seed is one of their preferred foods.
Other birds that love it are juncos, pine siskins, house finches, redpolls and several sparrows.

Nyjer seed is especially valued as a winter bird food because of its composition. Food with higher oil content and higher calorie content is required so that birds can survive in colder temperature. Birds need to store fat for winter season and the protein content is also helpful in generating feathers when birds molt in the late fall and early spring.

Nyger Seed Facts

Wild Bird Feeding Industry branded the imported niger oilseed used to feed wild birds and thistle. They have given the name Nyjer seed on 1998 to differentiate it from other imported seeds. However, many people feeding wild birds and some industry packaging and selling birds still referred to label the seed as both niger and thistle. In fact, it is easy to tell between nyger seed and thistle. It is probably because of the fact that goldfinches eat the seeds of thistle plants too. Though birds will pick nyjer seed over thistle seed due to its high fat and protein content.

Thistle is an aggressive weed that can take over the entire fields in the irritation of many farmers in North America. Before shipment of the imported nyjer oilseed sold as birdseed, it is heat sterilized to prevent germination of these weeds.

Buying And Storing Nyjer Seed

Nyjer seeds are found in many birdseed mixes but can be bought separately. It is sometimes referred to as "black gold" due to its expensive price. Actually, it is expensive because of its importing and sterilizing costs. It is important to use proper feeder and remember that Nyjer seed should be fed in a specially designed feeder that has tiny ports to prevent spillage.

It is essential to store the thistle seed in a cool area or refrigerate it to preserve. Also, hang the Nyjer feeder at least 15 feet from other feeders and water sources and 4-5 feet in the air in a brushy area if possible.

Heated Bird Bath
A heated bird bath is one of the best garden accessories you can have in your garden if you want to attract birds all through the winter.

Tasco Binoculars For Birding Enthusiasts
Tasco binoculars, have powerful magnification capabilities that will help your view even the smallest of details of birds soaring far above the ground.

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