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Hi all; As I was enjoying the antics of all the fledging juncos at my feeder right now (the first on June 2), I remembered that I had intended to advise NatureNS readers of a possible increase in the price of bird seed, especially sunflower seed (both striped and black oil). I just made a large purchase at Walker's Seed in Dartmouth, where I was advised that such a price increase is anticipated. There are two main reasons for this. The first is that the harvest last summer was very poor (at least in much of western Canada). The second is that the increasing demand for BioFuel is beginning to divert increasing amounts of sunflower seed away from the cooking oil and bird seed markets, and into the BioFuel market. More competition plus decreased harvest = increase in prices. Indeed, there is some risk that sunflower seed will become very difficult to obtain, especially here on the east coast, so far from the areas of production. I bought several bags, but not to stockpile. They are needed now, as I've never had so many juncos and White-throated Sparrows at my feeders. More than 100 of the former and 25 or so of the latter are daily visitors, and have been since late April. Add in the numerous Purple Finches, Blue Jays, doves, woodpeckers, etc, and I'm having to restock the feeding platforms twice daily. It is an expensive hobby this year, and likely to get more so if the prices do indeed rise. Good birding, ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blake Maybank Editor, "Nova Scotia Birds" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://maybank.tripod.com/BSNS.htm 144 Bayview Drive White's Lake, Nova Scotia, B3T 1Z1, Canada maybank@ns.sympatico.ca (902) 852-2077 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.8.11/838 - Release Date: 07/06/2007
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