Sunflower Hearts: Attracting Birds to Your Garden
Sunflower hearts are shelled sunflower seeds, a nutritious and mess free bird food for all year round. Find out why they are a favourite among birders and how they will attract birds to your garden.
Key Points
- Sunflower hearts are a nutritious mess free bird food that attracts birds all year.
- Come in various sizes for different feeding needs and are easier for soft billed birds to eat as there is no tough outer husk.
- Proper storage and feeding is key to keeping sunflower hearts fresh and a constant food source for birds, with seasonal adjustments.
Sunflower hearts are a favourite among birders in the UK, a nutritious and mess free feeding option that attracts all sorts of garden birds. These shelled sunflower seeds, with no tough outer husk, are packed with energy, protein and healthy oils. Whether you are feeding finches, robins or blue tits, sunflower hearts are a top quality food source that will keep your garden alive all year round.
Sunflower hearts are versatile and nutritious, perfect for patios, gardens and bird tables with minimal waste. Their popularity in bird feeding is due to these qualities, so you can feed sunflower hearts and sunflower hearts for birds and transform your bird watching.
Why Sunflower Hearts?
Sunflower hearts are cleaner and more convenient than traditional sunflower seeds, no mess of discarded husks. High nutritional value and easy to eat attracts a wide range of birds, finches, robins and tits, so a lively and varied garden.
Sunflower hearts come in three sizes—1.5kg for occasional feeders, 12.5kg for regular feeding and 25kg for those who like to stock up—so suitable for any garden whether you have a small flock or a busy bird haven.
Nutritional Content of Sunflower Hearts
Sunflower hearts are full of nutrients, 21g of protein and 51g of fat per 100g. These nutrients are perfect for birds energy needs especially during harsh winter months, so sunflower hearts are a year round feeding option.
Soft billed birds like robins can eat sunflower hearts as they have no tough outer husk. This, combined with their high energy density, makes sunflower hearts a favourite food for many species so birds get the nutrients without extra effort.
Types of Bird Feeders for Sunflower Hearts
Choose the right bird feeder to attract birds that love sunflower hearts. Hanging tube feeders, ground feeders and bird tables each have their own benefits and attract different species.
Here are the details.
Hanging Tube Feeders
Hanging tube feeders dispense sunflower hearts well, attract small birds with their design. These feeders are easy to use and weatherproof so perfect for year round use.
Position hanging tube feeders around your garden and you will attract a wide range of bird species, from goldfinches to blue tits and have a great bird watching experience.
Ground Feeders
Ground feeders are for birds that like to feed from the ground, like robins and blackbirds. They fit in with natural feeding habits and are useful in gardens with limited space for hanging feeders, a ground feeder solution.
Ground feeders make sunflower hearts available to ground feeding birds so a wide range of species can enjoy this nutritious seed. This will also attract a range of birds to your garden and enhance your bird watching.
Bird Tables
Bird tables are a communal feeding area for sunflower hearts, attracts a wider range of bird species. They have plenty of space for larger birds like collared doves and great spotted woodpeckers and can be fitted to keep the feed dry and fresh.
A good bird table is good for garden birds and adds a decorative feature to your outdoor space. It’s practical and natural, enhances your garden and attracts various wild birds.
Sunflower Hearts vs Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower hearts are a mess free alternative to whole sunflower seeds, no outer husk that results in discarded shells. This makes them more convenient, less clean up and a tidier feeding area. They have a higher calorie to weight ratio so more energy for birds.
The oils in sunflower hearts keep birds’ feathers and skin healthy. Birds conserve energy by eating sunflower hearts as they don’t have to remove shells. This quick consumption makes sunflower hearts a completely edible and waste free option for birds and feeders.
How to Store Sunflower Hearts
Store sunflower hearts in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat and direct sunlight to keep fresh. Ideally below 14°C to prevent mould growth. Avoid direct sunlight to preserve nutritional value and shelf life.
Make sure to close the storage container to keep sunflower hearts fresh. If the seeds smell foul they have gone stale and shouldn’t be fed to birds.
To keep fresh buy enough seed to last 4-6 weeks so sunflower hearts are a year round food.
How Much to Feed
Adjust the amount of sunflower hearts according to season, birds need more energy in winter, in winter offer more food as natural sources are scarce. In summer reduce the amount to avoid waste and pests.
Put out enough to last 3-5 days so the sunflower hearts stay fresh and nutritious. Monitor the bird feeding habits in your garden and adjust accordingly, to provide a consistent food source all year round.
Birds That Love Sunflower Hearts
Sunflower hearts attract a wide range of wild birds so a popular choice. Robins, blackbirds, blue tits, great tits, chaffinches and sparrows love them. Feeding them all year will keep your garden busy.
Sunflower hearts also attract collared doves, greenfinches, great spotted woodpeckers, goldfinches, long-tailed tits and starlings. Providing sunflower hearts will attract a range of bird species to your garden especially in harsh weather when a reliable food source is key.
Conclusion
In summary sunflower hearts are a great choice for feeding garden birds because of their high nutritional value, ease of use and attract a wide range of bird species. They are mess free and high in calories so a convenient and efficient food source for birds all year. By choosing the right feeders and storing the seed correctly you can ensure your birds get the best.
Casual bird watcher or dedicated bird enthusiast, add sunflower hearts to your feeding routine and turn your garden into a bird haven. Start feeding sunflower hearts today and enjoy the sight of birds thriving in your garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will sunflower hearts grow?
- Answer: No sunflower hearts will not grow as they are husked seeds that don’t have the necessary parts to germinate. If you want to grow sunflowers you need to use whole seeds.
Why sunflower hearts over sunflower seeds?
- Answer: Sunflower hearts are preferred because they are mess free and higher in calories, a convenient and efficient food for birds. So a great choice for bird enthusiasts and feeders.
How do I store sunflower hearts to keep them fresh?
- Answer: Store sunflower hearts in a cool dry place in a sealed container, away from moisture, heat and direct sunlight. This will keep them fresh.
What feeders to use for sunflower hearts?
- Answer: Hanging tube feeders, ground feeders and bird tables are all suitable for sunflower hearts, each will attract different bird species. Choose the feeder that fits your backyard and the birds you want to attract.
How much sunflower hearts to feed birds?
- Answer: Feed birds enough sunflower hearts to last 3-5 days, more in winter and less in summer to avoid waste and pests.