FINCHforum

So there's a tall grass growing by my house that gives off stalks of seeds. I searched up the plant and it looks like the plant is called ammophila or "beach grass". Anyone know if this is ok to give birds as a treat? I did some research and I didn't find anything about it being toxic or poisonous. Just wanted to hear some opinions.

BBry

Not certain about this particular type of grass, but I feed my guys wild grass seeds all the time.

When I walk the dogs in the mornings, I pick all sorts of wild grass seed heads and seeds. My feathered kids from Canaries, down to Gold breasts, and every one in between love them. Some they eat, some they play with, but they enjoy all of them.

Elana

BBry

Here's a picture of the favorite types.

Elana

Cool thanks I'm gonna start looking around my neighborhood to see if I can find any like those.

Your neighborhood? Be sure to only collect grass from areas free from the use of chemicals and pesticides as well as fumes from passing vehicles. lovezebs collects her grasses on dog walks in the wilderness of Canada...lol

Colt
Hey my young friend. .... you make it sound like I live in a log cabin, up in the wilds , with yetti or sasquatch for neighbours. That would be my brother, although his house is not a log cabin.

I live in a rather large city (a million+ population). My dog walks, are in an unused green space behind houses, overlooking a large hillside, a bike path, a train track, a creek, and further below (but not far enough for my liking) a highway.

Elana

Oh Elana - everything is so green! Here all the grasses have long dried up and turned yellow (but then again we had fresh grass seed when you still had snow....
My birds also loved all the fresh grasses early in the spring. I still bring back dried grass stems occasionally for future nest building. BBry - you can offer a large variety of fresh wild greens (including dandelion, thistles, shepherd's purse, etc.) and keep track of what they like best. Very often these plants even come with aphids and other bugs which is a great bonus. Good luck.
Iso

Haha lovezebs - I was mostly teasing you. I just remember your dog walk pictures and the photos of the grass you harvested and remembered thinking to myself if you walked over the hill there'd be Kodiak or Grizzley bear waiting to eat you up. It just looks so natural and picturesque...

Colt@lovezebs

LOL that was too funny!!

Colt

I'm afraid we haven't had any bears around this area, Grizzly or otherwise (my brother however, who does live in the mountains, opened his garage door some years back, and surprised a black bear. Both of them, went AAAHHHH! And ran in opposite directions).

Around my area, we have had a Bull Moose, who chased one of my neighbors and her cat up the hill. We've also had a herd of nine deer some years ago. Coyotes, who are intelligent, curious creatures. Foxes, who raise their kits in a burrow down the hill. Porcupines, that I've seen, and thankfully been able to keep the dogs away from. Skunks, that regrettably I haven't been able to keep the dogs away from. Also huge jack rabbits, (that turn white In the Winter and brown/grey In the Summer), squirrels, a type of prairie chicken (don't know the species) , along with gophers (ground squirrels) and hawks, gulls, crows, blue jays, magpies, chickadees, bats, woodpeckers, starlings, swallows, sparrows and many other species, but no bears , Colt.

Elana

BBry@lovezebs

BBry, all grasses are generally safe for birds and they will love whatever green seeds you can find for them. As mentioned though, just make sure they are not in an area where they spray pesticides etc.

Elana, you live in such a beautiful place! I have family in Canada and from what I have seen in photo's, it really is an amazingly beautiful country!! Bears and all

Rox

Hey Rox.....
You live in a pretty stunning corner of the world yourself girl.
Yes, Canada is a beautiful country, but so big that it's almost impossible to see it all in a lifetime, unless one has unlimited money, and time.

How are your birds doing this winter ?

Elana

BBry
I go out on my lunch hour at work with scissors in hand! My office is right off the highway where the area is too vast to kill with pesticides. So I bring home fresh cut seed heads for my birds and have not had any issues. At some point the state sends out grass cutters and they mow everything down....but after some time, all the "weeds" are back! They do not spray pesticides in the area I'm in and it is just far enough off the highway, so I don't have to worry about fumes from passing vehicles. It is worth all the effort for your birds, but don't be worried about what your neighbors or co-workers might say....

My zebra finches like Plantago lanceolata' weeds.

Koko

I will have to look that up, as my Latin (?) Is not so good .

I'll try and send pictures of the actual grasses and weeds as tgey grow, which might make them easier to identify when you see them. Not sure, if we have the same vegetation here in Canada, as you have in Poland.

Elana