All day long, songbirds, sparrows, finches, and others swoop in with a spry, jazzy rhythm, snatching pests from my yard. They dive-bomb the lawn, peck flower stems and leaves, and nibble the shrubs. They even hover at the stucco to snatch spiders from their webs. Their meals are my pest control.
Nature stages the most exhilarating musical.
Many of the birds come for the Nyjer seed and clean bath that I provide; others show up for the pest buffet.
I use Nyjer seed for several reasons. First, rats and mice aren’t attracted to it like they are to other bird seeds. Years ago, I hung a feeder with typical seed and unknowingly invited rats into my yard—they covertly destroyed my 10-person spa. The seeds also rooted weeds everywhere. What a mess!
Nyjer seed doesn’t cause those problems. The USDA requires that all imported Nyjer seed be heat-treated to prevent germination. It’s a win for us and a win for the birds. After trying several brands, I settled on Wagner’s Nyjer Seed Bird Food in a 20-pound bag from Amazon. Lately, I’ve been buying two 10-lb. bags instead—they’re easy to store in a tin bucket and sometimes the two-pack costs less than the big bag. Either way, I love that the bags feature a re-sealable zipper to help keep the seed fresh. Nyjer can dry out easily.
I use bird feeders with a Quick-Clean design like this and this. The removable base makes cleaning simple.
Nyjer seed—also called thistle seed—is a gourmet option. It can attract a swarm of beautiful Lesser Goldfinches, as well as American goldfinches and pine siskins. Doves and sparrows also feed daily on the seeds that fall to the ground. It’s a regular garden party.
Wild birds are the best natural pesticide—while providing beauty and song to my yard.
Nature is a brilliant and perfect design. ♥