I have two plates on the porch for sunflower seeds for birds. (Nobody liked the berries.) All sorts of birds are customers now, but most are sparrows. The birds are extremely shy and bolt even when I stealthily peep through the blinds. Yesterday I heard loud chirping from the porch, so I went to check if there was a problem, expecting a foot stuck somewhere or bullying. Instead, a sparrow was sitting at one of the empty plates complaining loudly. I restocked the seeds while the sparrow was watching from the fence, still chirping. Today, I heard loud chirping again, finding two sparrows, one at each plate, complaining about depleted rations. They flew away when I came closer for pouring the good stuff, but kept a shorter distance while waiting then yesterday's sparrow. I will be curious to see if some sparrows become less fearful of me. (The sparrows in the open-air areas at local cafes often sit on top of the backs of chairs at the same table with patrons. Not everyone likes that.)
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Sparrows demand more sunflower seeds after first week of supply (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter B1FF
- Start date
How can that be? I don't think that I've made a mistake, sparrows are easy to identify (from the chirping, also from behavior and looks, of course). Are there any sparrows where you live? Do other birds eat the seeds? Blackbirds and tits (not quite sure) are fond of my meals, too, but visits are much rarer. I buy peeled seeds (the only type available at the mall).
That's a bird riot, lol...
Like this? Amazon.com : Sunflower Hearts/Chips 8LB : Pet Supplies What does "heart" mean? "Dehulled"? It's 2 bucks for half a pound here, but I don't have 156 brbs here.
Yes, the hearts are the inside of the Sunflower seed.
stuartvine
Well-known member
I put out sunflower hearts, our sparrows love them (not as much as they do suet balls, mind you). When we moved in, two sparrows were coming into the garden. 20 years later, we have a flock of 30 on the feeders. 
Deans Sanctuary
Well-known member
Bring down the temperature of your feeding site/allow them to feel safer. In turn you'll get a wider variety and they will not be as jumpy. Just placing random feeders/plates without adjoining cover i.e. canopy or the ability to stage will always create a problem.
Scozmos
Well-known member
I use Sunflower Hearts here KC and everything appears to love them
Deans Sanctuary
Well-known member
The oil within the seed is what birds need especially in colder climates. Those oils are compromised with age and the chips will age sooner out of the shell.
I use Sunflower Hearts here KC and everything appears to love them
