Totally agree with Stephen on this. Towhees and thrushes dig around in that
debris and it is fun to see what they unearth. And it breaks down and helps
enrich our poor soil here. Nature may not be tidy, but It is endlessly
fascinating to observe the interconnections!
Sent from my iPad
On Sep 24, 2020, at 12:34 PM, Stephen Tyson <kytysons9152@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I recommend that you think about that shell waste differently. Nature makes
use of everything, and we’ve noticed that sunflower seed debris produces its
own ecosystem under the feeders, especially in the Spring. Robins and
Thrashers pick through the decomposing debris for the rich variety of
earthworms and other small creatures that are drawn to it. In fact, last
spring, a pair of Robins raised a brood near our feeders, seemingly, mostly
from worms picked from under the feeders. It may not look very nice to us
but, in a way, whole sunflower seed is feeding the birds twice.
Also, I can’t help but think that having to shell their food may be better
for them, in the same way it is better for us to use the stairs than the
elevator.
Stephen Tyson, Schochoh, Logan Co
On Sep 24, 2020, at 6:13 AM, Cathy Oyster <crhorses@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Does anyone feed sunflower hearts instead of seeds? The area under my
feeders fills up with the shells.
Cathy Oyster
Jessamine Co.
