Friday, May 14, 2010

Why do Australian magpies favour sunflower seeds over other types of seed?

Whenever I put out wild bird seed mix for the magpies, they'll eat the black sunflower seeds and leave the rest. Are their beaks not suited to cracking open the other seeds, or perhaps do sunflower seeds contain the nutrients they need?

Why do Australian magpies favour sunflower seeds over other types of seed?
Well, you are correct. They prefer the sunflowers because the meat inside the shell is much easier for them to get at and digest than with things like millet. It is also high in fat, and oils and that attracts them as well. They will eat other types of seed, but they are eaten just for the fiber content, and then are regurgitated similar to how a bird of prey regurgitates a cast of bones and fur from their prey. I have 2 pet magpies (legal in SA) and they also get into the horse mix that I feed the pet roos. They fossick through and take out the wheat that is sweetened with molasses. They also tend to have a bit of sweet tooth and like things like bananas. If ya really want to help the wild maggies out, buy some cheap pet mince, and add budgie seed or rolled oats and calcium powder which is available at your local produce store. Don't give them too much or they get lazy and dependent upon your hand outs. Give 3 or 4 pieces about double the size of a marble per bird per day. Once you notice they are taking some the food with them rather than eating it all there, you can bet they have chicks in the nest, so that's a good time to offer a few extra bits per bird. I am incredibly passionate about Maggies. And am glad to know you are helping your local flock out. Please feel free to contact me via my profile for more specifics on feeding the wildies. Good on ya!
Reply:Because they think the sunflower seeds are insects, freswood. Magpies are insectivorous, and not seed eating birds at all. I supplementary feed my magpie family with a special dog food log and they love it.
Reply:sunflower seeds are a favourite of many birds, and mammals as well.





sunflower seeds are high in fatty oils, and a rich food source. they simply provide more food energy per seed than almost any other common bird seed ingredient, so when they are available, the birds tend to take them first.





while the magpies could eat the other seeds if they wanted to, they prefer to select only the really good stuff. if they get real hungry, they'll eat the other stuff too, but its not their favourite.





it's sort of like the box of chocolates, where the caramels disappear first, and the weird orange cremes and those odd, jelly filled things are left to the last. since you keep putting out new seed, the birds never getting around to eating the lesser seeds, because there's always the high grade sunflower seeds in the mix.


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