Yellow No/No Finch Feeder with Pine Siskins and a House Finch feeding on Nyjer.

Nyjer seeds are a highly preferred food for goldfinches, Purple Finches, redpolls, House Finches and Pine Siskins. Biologists predict that the coming winter could be a big year for these northern finches to come farther south in much larger numbers, so now is the time to get ready for a great season of backyard finch action.

Nyjer seeds, sometimes referred to as Niger or thistle seeds, are tiny and require a specialized feeder. You can provide Nyjer seeds straight or in a mix with other seeds blended to attract finches.

The most common feeder used is a tube feeder with small feeding ports designed just for Nyjer seeds. Nyjer tube feeders may be plastic or metal, and most feature several feeding ports and perches. Many finch species are gregarious and it’s not uncommon to have several finches, often including different species, on a single feeder simultaneously.

Some manufacturers offer models with two or three tubes connected in a cluster, or with a dozen or more feeding ports, which can accommodate a lot of birds at once. There are dozens of models of Nyjer tube feeders available to suit nearly every interest and style.

Another popular way to offer this specialty seed is a Nyjer Sock. Sock feeders are typically made of fabric or metal mesh. When hung in your yard, finches can cling anywhere on the sock and extract seeds. Some sock feeders come already loaded with seed so they can be hung immediately, and the socks can be refilled until the fabric deteriorates.

A great place to start shopping for a Nyjer seed feeder is at your local wild bird retail store. Talk to the experts there about your special needs and they will help you find a product just right for you. When purchasing any type of feeder, look for quality well-made products. Good construction and quality parts mean a longer-lasting feeder. Better brands tout the features that make their feeders good for birds and for birders.

Be sure to choose a model that is easy to clean – it should be simple to wash the feeder in a dilute bleach solution to kill bacteria. Many feeders are now available that are made with recycled or sustainably sourced materials that are a little easier on Mother Earth.

Article by Peter Stangel

Some fine Nyjer seed feeders are featured in this issue as Gear articles.

A couple more places to learn about what types of Nyjer seed feeders are available include The Duncraft Wild Bird Superstore, which offers a variety of tube and sock feeders for Nyjer at https://www.duncraft.com/index/page/category/category_id/22/name/Nyjer+Seed+Bird+Feeders?view_all

Droll Yankees advertises a variety of Nyjer feeders at http://drollyankees.com/product-category/nyjer-seed-finch-feeders/