Hello Robin and thank you for contacting OSU Extension Service.

Bird food from big box stores are probably not always the freshest and this may be why the birds are avoiding it. Home Depot may still offer you credit for it, if you explained that the birds aren't taking to it - even though you mixed it into other seed. You might consider sourcing your bird seed from a bird feeding specialty store, as they go through their supplies of seed quickly, which makes it fresher. They often also have a guarantee on their seed, so if birds just aren't eating it, they may give you credit or a refund to try something else. While these places are often more expensive than discount stores, if the seed is not being consumed anyway, you're losing money on a cheaper purchase.

Several things about bird feeding. First, birds aren't always in need of bird seed throughout the year. During the spring and summer months, birds are spending a lot of their energy building nests and then rearing young. In the late winter and spring months, you may notice high activity at your feeders, when the high energy of seeds is used to help get birds through establishing nesting territories, nest building and mating. During the summer, feeder activity may diminish, as insects and other invertebrates are in good supply, providing high energy and the kinds of nutrition that seeds can't provide. Insects and other invertebrates provide the fat, protein and calcium necessary for females to produce eggs and then feed to fast growing chicks. It should also be mentioned that not all seed types at all times of the year are preferred. Some seed types are more nutritious and more preferred by different birds than others.

Also, it is recommended to avoid the mixed seed varieties, as they contain a lot of "filler" seeds like millet, oats, and other less desirable seeds. By weight, you end up paying for mostly the seeds that birds avoid and scatter uneaten. Safflower, as a seed choice, may not be the most desirable choice for the types of birds you have coming to your feeders. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, "Safflower has a thick shell, hard for some birds to crack open, but is a favorite among cardinals. Some grosbeaks, chickadees, doves, and native sparrows also eat it." Because Oregon doesn't have the Northern Cardinal, it is possible that the other birds you may have, such as black-headed Grosbeak, black-capped chickadee and others mentioned, just don't like it or can't get to the good stuff inside the shell. Cornell also indicates that as an all-around seed, sunflower is best, particularly black oil sunflower. Here's the source for this information: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/types-of-bird-seed-a-quick-guide/. I also found this link with a comparison of nutrition between different seed types: http://www.littlefeatheredbuddies.com/images/info/nutrition-seeds1.jpg. I cannot find another authoritative source for such information.

I personally have the best all around luck with black oil sunflower. I have tried nyjer (thistle), with mixed luck (could be I'm not getting the freshest seed). Nyjer is expensive, but will attract the colorful American Goldfinch and its cousin, the Lesser Goldfinch.

For the most variety of birds, try getting un-mixed seed varieties that you've had the best luck with, and then without mixing them together, put them in different kinds of feeders, such as trays, tubes, and hoppers. Different birds prefer getting their food from different kinds of feeders. Some birds like to forage on the ground, so adding trays down low is also a good option. Add in suit cakes, especially during the winter, to attract woodpeckers, nuthatches and bushtits.

Keep in mind that birds, like all wildlife, respond to habitat. The more places birds have to find cover and foods beyond those you provide at feeders, the better luck you'll have at attracting a variety of birds. Lastly, habitat includes water, and so be sure to put out and maintain clean bird baths year-round so that birds can drink while they feed. Water is limited during the hot and dry months here in Oregon, and water at a feeder greatly increases the success of attracting birds that you can enjoy.

I hope this response helps. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Thank you so much for your response! I appreciate it so much. Home Depot gave me a refund and I put sunflower chips and black oil sunflower seed in the feeders. I also have up suet. I have Downy Woodpeckers and some baby chickadees who are loving it. 
Thank you for the information about the birds eating more insects now. That makes a lot of sense. 
I also appreciate the websites. I’m familiar with All About Birds, but not the other one. I’ll check it out. 
Thanks again and be well,
Robin

Hi Robin,

Thank you very much for your response and I'm glad I could be helpful. I will add that I, too, am unfamiliar with the other websites. Because I'm not a food scientist or nutritionist, I wouldn't personally assert expertise on the nutrition data. The chart appears to have been posted on a captive pet bird oriented site versus a wild bird site, so perhaps there are caveats to consider. I thought it might be useful in so far as it was the only comparison I could find that might lend insight into which food for birds carries the most nutrition potential. Just wanted to throw that out there in case there's some issues with the data that you might find elsewhere.

So glad you're finding success in the sunflower chips and black oil variety, and that Home Depot refunded your money. One thing I didn't add last time is that the cheeper seed mixes containing the less desirable seeds also tend to attract the less desirable bird species - in particular, English house sparrows and European starlings. It sounds like you are getting some great birds.

All the best and if some other wildlife questions comes up, don't forget to reach out to OSU Extension for answers - there may even be a publication on it that you can get off the OSU Extension website.