Mmcguire
Member
Heads up,
Next winter's birdseed may cost dramatically more (at least in the USA), because many growers of sunflower seeds and other bird foods have contracted to produce more lucrative crops such as beets and corn (i.e., maiz) to be used in ethanol production. The pressure to use agricultural land and water for transportation fuel production is an economically and environmentally disasterous policy. In addition to getting politically vocal about environmental issues, those of us who love to attract birds to our gardens will need to start growing a lot more of our own bird-foods. Fortunately, sunflowers and zinnias are lovely in the garden. And I've just planted a plot of millet, too -- last year a few "volunteer" millet plants attracted a beautiful pair of painted buntings.
Next winter's birdseed may cost dramatically more (at least in the USA), because many growers of sunflower seeds and other bird foods have contracted to produce more lucrative crops such as beets and corn (i.e., maiz) to be used in ethanol production. The pressure to use agricultural land and water for transportation fuel production is an economically and environmentally disasterous policy. In addition to getting politically vocal about environmental issues, those of us who love to attract birds to our gardens will need to start growing a lot more of our own bird-foods. Fortunately, sunflowers and zinnias are lovely in the garden. And I've just planted a plot of millet, too -- last year a few "volunteer" millet plants attracted a beautiful pair of painted buntings.