While black oil sunflower seeds are the popular choice when choosing what to feed our wild birds, peanuts are an excellent addition to backyard feeders. The peanut has a high percentage of fat, protein and oil. Peanuts are highly nutritious and provide a lot of calories, making them an ideal meal for winter feeding. In colder temperatures when the days are shorter, birds have less daylight time to collect food. They burn a lot of calories just trying to keep warm, so high performing, high energy foods, like peanuts, are important to their survival.
Peanuts attract a wide variety of birds, most notably, woodpeckers, jays, titmice, nuthatches and chickadees. Because they are a popular choice, chances are that peanuts will be quickly consumed. However, it is important to buy your peanuts from a reputable dealer and check your feeders regularly to ensure that the peanuts are fresh. Peanuts can become rancid if they become wet or for some reason remain in the feeder too long. Squirrels and some nuisance birds are also attracted to peanuts so make sure that measures are taken to keep them at bay.
