Feed the birds with the annual Martin Park birdseed sale

(August 22, 2007) - Treat your feathered friends to a backyard buffet this winter by purchasing birdseed from the Friends of Martin Park during the 16th annual birdseed sale.  The seed is specially formulated to attract a wide variety of colorful birds including cardinals, goldfinch and siskins and nuthatchers.

Seed can be purchased in 25 and 50-pound bags.  Varieties include black oil sunflower seed (the 2-to-1 favorite of wild birds), thistle seed, sunflower heart (reduces the mess of shells), white millet (popular with ground feeding birds) and safflower seed (a high-energy seed that attracts cardinals and other colorful birds).  Suet cakes and two premium seed mixes formulated by Martin Park naturalist Neil Garrison are also available.

Prices range from $11 for a 25-pound bag of white millet to $51 for a 50-pound bag of sunflower hearts.  Proceeds from the sale benefit the Friends of Martin Park organization, the private non-profit support arm for Martin Park.

“The birdseed sale helps support programming at Martin Park Nature Center,” said volunteer birdseed coordinator Tom Bailey.  “Past proceeds have helped us underwrite portions of the park’s bird viewing wall, observation tower scope, gazebo and Nature Center exhibits.”

Order forms may be downloaded from the “Things To Do” page of the City’s Website at www.okc.gov.  They may also be requested via mail or fax by calling 751-3771.  Citizens may pick up their birdseed between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 22 at Farmer’s Grain, 102 W First Street in Edmond.  Seed not picked up by 2 p.m. will be donated to Martin Park Nature Center.

Martin Park Nature Center, located at 5000 West Memorial, is open to the public 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday – Sunday.