Overview
- Conservation groups say sunflower seeds, shelled or unshelled, make a reliable base feed for many common seed‑eating garden birds.
- Avoid bread, table scraps and salted fats because they lack nutrients and can cause illness in birds.
- Use silo-style feeders and dedicated fat‑ball dispensers rather than open trays or plastic nets, which can trap legs or contaminate food.
- Clean feeding stations to limit disease: sweep droppings daily and wash feeders with hot water and a brush every one to two weeks.
- Treat feeding as short-term help during cold spells, not species conservation, and support long-term habitat by buying regional or organic mixes and leaving seed heads and native plants in gardens.