nyjer seed

Nyjer seeds are a particular favourite of goldfinches and siskins.

The exciting new addition to many British gardens, attracted by the specialised new bird food, nyjer seed.

For the best chances of attracting goldfinches and siskins, invest in some nyjer seeds.

Oil rich nyjer seeds and sunflower hearts have become popular, and new feeder designs help attract different species.

BTO experts say the change is due to a recent trend for putting out food such as nyjer seed and sunflower hearts.

Highly nutritious nyjer seed, for example, seems to act like a magnet to any goldfinches, greenfinches or siskins that are in the local area.

There was a Baltimore oriole at the jelly feeder, a downy woodpecker eating suet, and goldfinches grabbing some nyjer seed.

Typically it is mixed with seeds such as millet, sunflower seed, safflower seed, Nyjer seed, buckwheat, cereal grains, flaxseed, and canola.

They are frequent visitors to bird feeders throughout the year, particularly if stocked with sunflower or nyjer seed, and will congregate at hanging nyjer sock feeders.

Nyjer feeders filled with Nyjer seed to attract Goldfinch and bird tables with mixed seeds to provide safe and easily observed, but 'elevated' ground feeding.

A recent arrival on the menu is the nyjer seed from the ramtil plant, which is popular with finches and siskins, but the universal year-round favourite is the black sunflower seed.

High-energy nyjer seed and sunflower hearts have proved a particular boon to goldfinches and with more householders prepared to provide specialist bird food the species has found an alternative source of food.

I can only tell you that a few years back I was told that if I put nyjer seed in the bird feeder, goldfinches would come; I did so – and, for the first time, come they did.

Maybe, if you're lucky, you'll even have the experience I had last winter, when I looked out once more from the kitchen window, and again saw a pair of glowing-green siskins on the feeder.Except that this time they were not alone: four goldfinches were fluttering about them, trying to get at the nyjer seed.

First sold in 1964 by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, a charity with over 1m members, bird feeders took off in the 1990s when food such as sunflower hearts and nyjer seeds became widely available and the RSPB began to encourage people to feed birds throughout the year.

The reasons why remain a mystery, although the arrival of nyjer seed in bird feeders in recent years must certainly have played a part.