"Ragnar" wrote in message ...


"Roger Tonkin" wrote in message
...

Although I've been aware of it, until all the snow
this week I've never wondered why so much niger seed
seems to be thrown onto the ground by the burds.

Is it really just discarded, or does niger seed,
despite its small size have a hard seed case that the
birds have to remove, and that is what I see scattered
on top of the snow?


It is definitely the whole seed, as numerous seedlings under my niger
feeder will testify.

Agreed the goldfinches in particular are very wasteful. Last Summer I made 3
wooden trays and fixed them about 6" below the bottoms of the sunflower and
the 2 niger feeders. I now top up the nigers every other day, so a saving of
50%.

No savings with the sunflower, but no wastage either, as chaffinches will
eat off the trays. Lot safer as the chaffs are normally ground-feeders -
there are lots of cats in the area!!

http://preview.tinyurl.com/c223jtk

http://preview.tinyurl.com/cls6auc

Another plus has been a visit by a PAIR of bullfinches to the s/f tray.
Previous Winters, we have only seen the male on the ground.