Reply to to the Question: This isn’t the first time I’ve got this inquiry from people who begin to use “thistle” in their feeders for finches. The dilemma happens in the terminology. What we sold you is Guizotia abyssinica, an upright, stout, branched annual plant originally out of the Ethiopian Highlands. The common name there is nigernood, which in turn translates to blackseed. When the seed became a cash crop, and exported to the U.S., corporations changed the name of the blackseed to thistle seed to take advantage of the finches affinity for native thistle (certainly not the invasive thistle your husband is referring to.)
Later the Wild Bird Feeding Industry (WBFI) has trademarked the name Nyjer. The industry’s objective is to have the seed known as Nyjer so birders won’t mistake it with Russian Thistle. They thought a spelling adjustment was in fact recommended in order to avoid any ideas of a racial slur.
Before you buy Nyjer to use for your thistle feeder, the seed is going to be heated to 120 degrees for 15 minutes to actually sterilize the Nyjer seed. It insures that you can fill all your “thistle feeders” for the finches, Pine Siskins and Redpolls without propagating invasive seeds within your landscape.
Subsequently, your hubby is correct, Russian Thistle does indeed create tumbleweeds. Nonetheless, you should feed Nyjer seed with no need of concern.
The goldfinches and I appreciate your interest in feeding birds.
