Super Sunflower Seeds

Without a doubt, the most popular seed at our bird feeders is black oil sunflower seeds. While I am in the process of refilling the feeders, scratchy-voiced Tufted Titmice, energetic Red-breasted Nuthatches and brilliant red Northern Cardinals seem to magically appear, eager for a snack of this tasty treat.

Black oil sunflower seeds are especially appealing because they are rich in oil and fat content. The meaty morsels offer much needed calories and nutrition for birds during the cold winter months. As well as supplying energy, black oil sunflower seeds have a high ratio of nutmeat to shell and are packed with essential protein. These sought after tidbits have very thin shells that can be easily broken by most seed eating birds.

During the winter season, we offer black-oil sunflower seeds at the feeders on our country property (in northwest Indiana) and at our home in the big city of Chicago. A steady stream of birds delight in the seeds. We see the above mentioned birds daily, as well as Blue Jays, House Finches, Pine Siskins, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Wild Turkeys.

To enhance your backyard bird watching experience during the winter months, be sure to place out a bird feeder filled with black oil sunflower seeds. This practice is twofold, for the benefit of the area birds and for your own viewing pleasure.

Female Northern Cardinal

Blue Jay

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

House Finches

Red-bellied Woodpecker

American Goldfinch

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Northern Cardinal

Dark-eyed Junco

Black-capped Chickadee

Red-headed Woodpecker

Pine Siskin

Dark-eyed Junco and Northern Cardinal

Sunflower seed bandit ~ Red Squirrel

Besides creating and writing posts for my own blog, Nature's Splendor, I am also a monthly contributor to the Birding is Fun! blog. The above post was originally written for the later in January of 2013.

Golden Moments at the Marsh

I wake early, eager with anticipation for an excursion down to the marsh. I step outside to a sleepy sun peeking through the trees and gentle breezes whispering between the pines. My ears perk, delighted with the various joyful tunes of an avian chorus. In the distance, a proud rooster crows ... ah, country living. Making my way through the deep forest on a roughly trod deer trail, I am careful to avoid the ever unpleasant poison ivy plants. I wander along a shallow ravine blanketed in fresh green undergrowth. As I near the marsh, it is as if the radio tuning dial has been changed. The previous station featured flute-like trills of House Wrens, clear, whistled melodies of Northern Cardinals and a bright, sing-song aria from a lone Scarlet Tanager. The new station showcases bouncy, sweet lilts sung by Yellow Warblers, reedy musical tunes and metallic tinks from Red-winged Blackbirds and comical trumpeting honks of Sandhill Cranes.

Spying brightness up ahead, I part the densely leaved branches to a forest of weatherworn cattails and burping frogs. Stepping gingerly atop the spongy marsh floor, a magical scene appears before my eyes. The rising sun casts it's golden warmth upon a marsh filled with budding slough flora and tattered cattails. Bright, fluttering gold speckles the wetlands. I situate myself in amongst 10 foot tall cattails, along the edge of a meandering stream that hosts a variety of wildlife including frogs, turtles, ducks, beavers and Sandhill Cranes. I quietly stand and observe ... What follows are a few of my golden moments at the marsh.

A Yellow Warbler seeks the perfect seed

A Yellow Warbler sings a merry tune

A Common Yellowthroat perches amongst the cattails

A Yellow Warbler looks out over the marsh

An American Goldfinch shows off his vibrant feathers

A Common Yellowthroat joins in the chorus

A female Yellow Warbler croons a pretty melody

The lovely plumage of a Yellow Warbler

A Yellow Warbler pauses on a flowering limb