What type of birdseed should you use?

Q Laura from New Jersey wants to know, What's the best birdseed to put in your birdfeeder when you are not sure what birds are around where you live? Is it dependent on the location you live in the country (North Eastern U.S. vs. South Western U.S. for example)? Stores sell "wild bird seed", but it this good for all types of birds?

A The birdseed that you use depends on what type of birds you are trying to attract. The most common types of bird food are; wild bird seed, song bird food, fruit and nuts, thistle, suet, and nectar. While there are other bird foods, these are the most common and you can attract a lot of birds to your yard using these types of food. I consider the wild bird food to be a generic type of bird food that appeals to a large variety of birds and is a good way to get started feeding birds. Once you learn what type of birds are in your area you may want to expand and start offering different types of food. The more varieties of food you offer; the more birds will visit your home.

One thing to remember is to be patient. Attracting a variety of birds to your yard can take a while. The number of birds coming to your yard will increase over the years if you are consistent with filling your feeders. We moved to a new house a few years ago and I had to start over with attracting birds to our yard. After 4 years in our house, my husband swears that we feed birds from all of the neighboring counties, so persistence does pay off. Keeping a bird identification book handy also helps you learn what type of birds you are attracting and you can put out food that you know they will like.

Don’t forget to provide your birds with a water sources, such as a bird bath, this will also make your yard more appealing!