Nyjer seeds are imported from Africa and India and are among the finest seeds money can buy. Few other bird seeds attract as many different species as the Nyjer seed. Your bird feeder will be humming with activity if you put some of this amazing seed in it. While it is more expensive, it is rich in calories and nutrients.
Knowing Nyjer Seed
Nyjer seeds were first found growing along the banks of the Niger River, and have since become a major export of Ethiopia. It is used most often for the feeding of goldfinches and purple house finches, although pine siskins also readily eat Nyjer seeds. Other species of birds will also eat it, though ground feeders might not have access to it if you use a feeder that prevents spillage.
Nyjer seed is often mistaken for thistle, a common American weed that grows along our nations roadways. The thistle, however, is dangerous to farming regions because of its capacity to overrun fields quickly if not monitored. Nyjer seeds are sterilized with heat to prevent germination, eliminating the danger of the plant becoming a problem for the countrys crops.
Nyjer seed prices range from about $15 to $20 a pound. Normal seed prices are about $10 to $12 lower, but are made with domestic seeds alone. There is the occasional wild bird seed mixture that will include Nyjer seed, but its high cost of importation and sterilization makes this uncommon.
