Hi Tweets,

Paul writes:

>I am new to this list, but am on a few others.

Welcome!

>This all started a few weeks back when I happened to buy a 50 lb bag of
>striped sunflower seed at the same time as a 50 lb bag of black (oil)
>seed. Both were the same weight, both the same cost.

Paul, if they were the same cost, you got either undercharged for the oil or
overcharged for the striped.

>I am looking for responses primarily from scientific or industrial
>sectors, lab study data, and controlled test results, as opposed to
>opinion. What I have discovered so far is that we all have a lot of
>opinions, and while they are truly interesting, they are not always
>supported by fact.

I worked a year in a Wild Birds Unlimited store here in Vancouver BC; the
company researched the nutritional data and passed on the results to the
staff. I don't know if that fits your criteria of objective information.
Happily, the general information isn't proprietary. Looking over your
queries, I can answer a couple.

(snip)
>Which is the best seed nutritionally for birds - striped or oil,

Oil.

>and why?

Several times the meat and oil--hence energy--content of striped and a much
thinner hull so a greater variety of birds can get to it and don't have to
work as hard; because of the thickness of its hull, consumption of striped
tends to be limited to seed-crackers.

>Is there a nutritional analysis of sunflower seed available
>for each type?

Somewhere, but I don't know where.

>Which type of seed when hulled has the highest yield by weight,
>and provides the most birdfeed?

Oil. With the reservation that from the bird's point of view the important
thing is not the most by volume, but the highest energy content per volume.

>For example: If you shelled a 50 lb.
>bag of striped, and one of black oil, what would the actual seed weight
>of each, and what would be the percentage of waste (by weight) in hulls
>from each?

Not to mention the twigs and stones that the more careless packers allow in.
I don't know. I'd suggest buying a bag of each, hulled, and working it out.
Otherwise, ask the seed stores, or the distributors.

>What plant packaging processes are applied to, or chemicals used
>if any, in the processing of sunflower birdseed. Do all commercial seed
>plants have similar processing procedures? Are there any known harmful
>effects that can or should be associated to these processes?

That's something you'd need to ask the seed companies directly, Paul, as the
answers would likely involve proprietary data; they may answer, may not,
depending.

>What toxins are released by decomposing sunflower seed hulls. Is
>there any difference in the toxic levels of striped and black oil seed?

Granting your assumption that there's some toxins there, once again, this a
query for the companies and/or the agricultural ministries and departments
which regulate the relevant standards.

>There seems to have been some research in 1994 indicating
>decomposing hulls leach toxins harmful to grass and other plant life.
>This has ramifications in cleanup around feeders, and methods of
>disposing of hulls, and their use (or not) in composting.

Can you post this research, Paul? I've not heard of this aspect. Certainly,
wet seed hulls that have lain a long time get moldy and serve as a good
medium for salmonella. I'd think frequent cleaning and policing the feeders
and ground beneath should solve this problem.

>What are the ramifications of toxins if any, in relation to
>health of insects, birds, and animal life?

Toxins tend to shorten abruptly insect, birds, and animal life. Is there
something more specific you're wondering about here? The query's a bit
open-ended.

>What is the dollar value of sunflower seeds sold annually in USA
>and Canada?

Statistics Canada and the US Dept. of Commerce would have that information.

>Which of the major producers have the highest quality
>product?

Ask the stores, ask the distributors, research the business statistics in
StatsCan.

>Are all sunflower seeds processed as birdfood created
>equal?

Yes, but they're everywhere in chains. Costco, Sears, Walmart. (Ba-da-doom)
Thankyuh, thankyuh, yore wunnerful. '-)

>if not, what are the differences?

Consumer Reports? Once again, asking the stores and the distributors would
be the best route to that information.

>Is it possible we should be
>more discerning in the selection and purchase of sunflower seeds we are
>feeding our birds?

More discerning than what? The highest standard I can think of is
organically-grown seed that's double- or triple-screened to remove twigs,
stones and other detritus.

One thing to remember, Paul, is that *if*--and I'm not taking a stance
either way--there are toxins present they'd be there in very small
quantities, and since there's been no reported mortality from regular bird
seed we can assume that any alleged toxicity is not acute, but may be
cumulative. But for the sake of the discussion, let's grant the assumption
that there is a toxin that if accumulated over a period of ten years will
eventually kill a small bird. This to a bird that's old at five years will
not be a problem.

>It seems to me if this information can be reliably gathered, it
>would/could/should, if properly communicated, assist birders firstly, to
>do what is best for the birds, and secondly, what is best for birder
>pocket books (by obtaining higher quality product for money spent).

Why not research and collate the information and publish an article in one
of the bird (not birding) magazines?

>I don't believe all seed is created equal. Price is not the only
>determining factor. The amount of birdseed sold in Canada and the USA
>has to be a staggering sum.

Compared to the Pentagon's thirty-thousand dollar toilet seats, or the over
fifty million that's being spent to turn downtown Vancouver BC into a
virtual no-go zone for its citizens while the various (and some quite
unsavory) heads of state chow down in luxury for four days at the APEC
conference in a couple of weeks, what's 'staggering'? Damn, I wish these
guys would just make conference calls and stop wasting *our* money.

>I think collectively it would be wise for
>us to look at our feeding practices - what exactly are we buying and
>feeding and why? Do we really know? Are we taking a lot for granted?
>Are we doing the right thing? For that matter, what is the right thing?

Good questions. 'Why' in particular. In my humble opinion, and that's all it
is, we don't really know, and I think we take nearly everything for granted.
Whether we're doing the right thing depends on what you mean by 'doing and
'right'. Your final question is one philosphers show no sign of being ready
to answer any time soon.

>I don't have an agenda... or a complaint about any product. I am just
>interested and think it is worth examing to understand what is best for
>the birds.

What you do have is the outline of a fairly long--if
well-researched--article on the subject. I hope we see it soon. Good luck.

Michael Price We aren't flying...we're falling with style!
Vancouver BC Canada -Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story
mprice at mindlink.net