Yes, growing sunflowers is easy so why can't it be done locally? One of the big problems mentioned, I think but my memory isn't reliable, was nyger - apparently it was being grown intensively using insecticides which, of course, killed off the insects and then had a knock-on effect on the local bird population (both by poisoning and by depriving them of food). seems more than ironic that birds elsewhere should suffer so that we can encourage some in our gardens?
Instead of importing nyger, ought we to be cultivating fields of thistles or whatever composite is attractive to finches and easy to grow?
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Originally Posted by smartie  Hmm. Not sure that filling my entire street with sunflowers would
meet the appetite of the birds round here, but it's a good point. RSPB claim that they are encouraging UK farmers to grow black sunflower seed, but I don't know where or how much. |