Birds consume grass seed, which often frustrates homeowners trying to establish a new lawn. When scattered across bare soil, the seed becomes a highly visible and easily accessible food source for many avian species. Protecting a newly seeded area requires understanding which birds are likely to feed there and implementing preventative measures before germination begins.
Identifying the Common Seed Eaters
The birds responsible for consuming freshly sown grass seed are generally ground-feeding species that frequent open, grassy areas. House sparrows are among the most persistent culprits; they are small, agile, and often move in groups, allowing them to rapidly clear an area of seed.
Larger birds, such as Mourning Doves and Pigeons, also pose a significant threat due to their size and flocking behavior. They can detect newly sown seeds quickly and consume substantial quantities in a short period. Finches, including House Finches and Goldfinches, are avid seed-eaters, using specialized beaks to crack open the seeds.
Dark-eyed Juncos readily feed on grass seed, especially when other food sources are scarce. Starlings, known for their large appetites, will also join the feast if they discover a newly seeded area. These birds instinctively peck at the ground to find food, which disrupts the establishment of the new turf.
Why Grass Seed is Appealing to Birds
Grass seed appeals to birds because it offers a dense and convenient energy source. Seeds are packed with essential macronutrients, including carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, which fuel avian metabolism. This nutritional density is important during periods of high energy demand, such as migration, breeding, or cold weather.
The high carbohydrate content offers quick energy, easily accessible when the seeds are scattered on the soil surface. A freshly seeded lawn represents an abundant, high-calorie buffet requiring minimal effort to obtain. Green grass seeds are noted for high crude protein levels (16 to 18 percent), making them valuable during the breeding season.
The availability of grass seed often coincides with spring or fall seeding projects, when natural food sources might be less plentiful. Spreading seed across bare soil advertises a concentrated food source to birds flying overhead. The small size of the seeds also makes them easy for a wide variety of species to consume efficiently.
Effective Methods for Protecting New Seed
The most effective strategy for protecting new grass seed is to make it physically inaccessible to birds until germination occurs. Using a lightweight physical barrier, such as bird netting or fine mesh, draped over the seeded area is a reliable method. The edges of the netting must be secured tightly to the ground with stakes or pins to prevent birds from accessing the seed.
Strategic planting techniques can also significantly reduce seed loss by making the seeds less visible and harder to reach. After spreading the seed, lightly raking the area to work the seeds a quarter-inch into the soil helps hide them from view. Applying a very thin layer of straw mulch or weed-free compost over the seeds serves a similar purpose, obscuring the food source while still allowing light and water to reach the soil.
Visual deterrents can offer temporary relief by creating an environment that birds perceive as unsafe, though their effectiveness often wanes as birds become accustomed to them. Hanging reflective objects, such as old compact discs or strips of metallic tape, can confuse and scare birds with unexpected flashes of light.
Placing an alternative food source, like a bird feeder filled with sunflower seeds, in a separate part of the yard can also divert the birds’ attention away from the newly seeded area. For a more active deterrent, motion-sensing sprinklers can be positioned to spray a sudden burst of water when a bird enters the seeded zone, startling them away without causing harm.
Once the grass seedlings have grown to about an inch or two tall, the seeds have successfully germinated, and the risk of loss to birds is significantly reduced, allowing for the removal of temporary barriers and deterrents.