Questions about Safflower and Millet

[D Gibson]

I was told by a gentleman at a birding store that #1) Squirrels will not eat safflower seeds, but most of the birds I've been feeding black oil sunflower seed will eat it. #2) Sparrows prefer millet over all other seeds. So if I put out a millet feeder, they will go to it and leave black oil sunflower feeders alone.

Questions: 1)Can anyone tell me if this info. is correct? 2)Do safflower and millet seeds sprout if they fall on the ground?

Thank you for any help!
Dana

[betsy]

I can tell you that House Sparrows are extremely fond of millet, but it will attract them in droves and if they can't all get at the millet at the same time, the extra ones might well go after the sunflower seeds.

Safflower on the ground will definitely sprout if it gets enough water. I don't have enough experience with millet seeds sold for birds to know if they sprout. Some seeds are treated so they can't sprout, I believe, but I don't know about millet. Safflower isn't sterilized,in my experience.

Squirrels are not fond of safflower but will eat if desperate. Cardinals, doves and House Finches are quite fond of safflower -- Blue Jays less so but will eat it in a pinch. They'd much rather have peanuts, of course.