Price of Black Oil sunflower seed

[Jim Almquist]

I went into L & M and was surprise that seed dropped to around $16 for 50 pounds. Merry Christmas to us

[JayinMN]

I still remember the good ole days when they were $8.00 a bag...lol

It is nice to see they are going down a bit though.

[Steve Foss]

Good old days?

Shucks, when I started birding in 1972 in Grand Forks, N.D., you could walk into any elevator and walk out with 50 lbs for less than $5.

Yeah, OK, I'm getting old.

I'm darn glad it's come down though. Now that we've got a backyard full of winter birds I'm definitely gotta keep them coming in.

[Birdsong]

Thank goodness! It was getting to be about $35 a week. I have trimmed back to black sunnies and suet only. They were eating better than I was.

[Steve Foss]

Birdsong, that's almost all I ever feed for birds in winter, anyway. Everything I have coming to the feeders (even the goldfinches, siskins and redpolls that get expensive thistle/niger seed from many bird fans), will gobble the black oil.

I also feed whole corn to help keep the deer and bluejays out of the sunflower. Corn's a lot cheaper and the deer and jays seem to prefer it. Much as I like seeing deer in the yard, they can be an open drain when it comes to seed.

I also put the seed out only first thing in the morning, and just what I think is enough to get through the day with a bit left over. That way the deer still come late in the afternoon but I'm not leaving 5 lbs in the feeders for them to get, just a few cups full.

[shorebird]

The grocery store here is selling sunflower chips and pieces for 14.75 a 50# bag. This has been the price for the last year.

I have bird watchers come to the cabin from a long ways away and they always seem to pickup a few bags on there way home.

[Steve Foss]

shorebird, we're talking shelled chips and pieces for that price? Just seed meat pieces with no shells?

[shorebird]

A picture is worth a thousand words.

When I would buy a lot of bags I would get it for a couple of dollars a bag cheaper. A lot of people would get it from me but it was easier to pick it up at the store. e

[Jim Almquist]

That is really a great deal shorebird for a mix like that. The price I was talking about is all in the shell.

[Birdsong]

Nice. That would eliminate some of the shell waste on the ground as well. I'm afraid to ask where the grocery store is. When you say cabin, it doesn't lend itself to being anywhere near the prairie. And for the whole corn you are putting out for the deer and jays, Steve, is that on the cob, off the cob? I should try it to keep the 14 squirrels at bay. The birds hardly have a chance to feed anymore. (What birds--they left after the sharp-shinned kept hanging around on Wednesday.) I bought some of those compressed corn things to see if that would keep them busy longer, but they only last 1 or 2 days. I'll trade you all 14 of the little beasts for a deer or two. Not really--I know they can be really damaging.

[Steve Foss]

It's off the cob. Cost is around $7 or $8 for 50 lbs.

[jonny_redhorse]

I was at L&M earlier today and saw that 50# of cracked corn was 8 bucks.....I know bluejays eat the stuff but not sure what other birds will eat it.....

[Steve Foss]

Jonny, jays will take it whole and cache it. Sparrows will eat it cracked. Deer will eat it however it is.

[jonny_redhorse]

Those deer can sure chew up seed!....I threw out about 10 pounds of black oil at a small area last week here near Hibbing(Carey Lake)...the deer ate every morsel!....I mean cleaned it up over night!....that's the end of that! ....as for the corn eating sparrows....think I'll pass on the cracked corn....sparrows can fend for themselves!....I could use it under my tires if I get stuck!

[JayinMN]

I got a 50# bag of sunflower seeds, a 50# bag of wild bird mix and a 50# bag of cracked corn for Christmas from my brother. He explained it like this "I didn't know what birds eat, so I bought one of each type." I guess I'm ready to feed the birds.

[Steve Foss]

Jay, the wild bird mix is great for sparrows and juncos. They like the cracked corn and millet in it. That'd be a good one to save until spring sparrow migration starts.

[Jim Almquist]

Quote:

I guess I'm ready to feed the birds.

I think your ready to feed anything that moves

[Steve Foss]

Quote:

I guess I'm ready to feed the birds.

I think your ready to feed anything that moves

Good one, Jim! Belly laugh!

[JayinMN]

I'll probably hang onto the wild bird mix till spring. The cracked corn, I'll mix a little with the sunflower seeds for the jays.

I also stock piled some alfalfa bales and deer feed too.

These dang animals eat better then me.

[Steve Foss]

These dang animals eat better then me.

They photograph better too. Sorry buddy. Had to.

[shorebird]

I live in Lancaster,Mn. That's about an hour and 15 minutes from Grand Forks.

My cabin is about 1 1/2 miles from the Canadian border. 20 miles from North Dakota.

They sell the seed at the local grocery store.

If anyone is birding up in this part of the country...let me know. If the cabin is not spoken for your more than welcome to stay.

[Steve Foss]

I know the country well, shorebird. I lived in Forks for a long time and covered NW Minn for the GF Herald for years.

Sweet landscape up there.

[JayinMN]

Shorebird are the Elk you posted common in that area year round?

What are the chances of me finding some if I drove out that way?

I have been throwing around the idea of driving over that way or to Wisconsin to shoot some elk with the camera.

[Steve Foss]

Jay, check with the DNR (probably Thief River Falls or Roseau would be the nearest sizeable DNR offices). There are a couple/three resident herds in NW Minn. year around. Also, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation probably has info on locations, but the DNR should be able to put you in pretty close to them.

Well, so can shorebird!

[JayinMN]

I was under the impression that they "migrated" into Canada for part of the year. Maybe I am thinking of the wrong herd.