The best local store for bird seed and bird feeders bags its seed fresh on site, sells it in sizes from a small trial bag up to bulk, and stocks enough feeder styles that staff can match the right feeder to the seed and the birds you want. Urban Nature Store's ten Ontario stores bag seed in store in sizes up to 50 lb, carry squirrel-proof, tube, hopper, platform and window feeders, and have birding staff on hand to help you put the two together.
What Makes a Local Store Good for Bird Seed and Feeders?
A good local store for seed and feeders gets three things right: fresh seed, the right bag size for how many birds you feed, and a feeder range wide enough to suit your yard. Seed bagged on site spends less time sitting in a warehouse, which matters most for oily seeds such as sunflower hearts that go stale faster once the shell is removed.
The feeder side matters just as much. A store that carries several feeder styles, replacement parts and feeders backed by long warranties can solve a real problem, such as squirrels emptying a tube feeder overnight, instead of selling you a second feeder that fails the same way.
How Is Seed Sold at Urban Nature Store's Local Stores?
Urban Nature Store bags its seed in store, from small bags up to bulk 50 lb bags, and restocks regularly so the seed on the shelf stays fresh. The Kingston store describes its seed as freshly bagged in store daily, and some stores keep 1 to 2 lb bags on hand for anyone who wants to bring seed along on a walk.
Popular choices in the fresh wild bird seed collection include:
- The all-round pick for most feeder birds is Black Oil Sunflower, from $10.95
- Goldfinches and other small finches go for Nyjer, a tiny seed from $16.95
- Doves, juncos and sparrows that feed low to the ground prefer White Millet, from $12.95
For a closer look at which bag sizes ship and which are pickup only, see the guide to ordering bulk birdseed online or picking it up in store.
Which Bird Feeders Can You Find in Store?
Urban Nature Store's feeder range runs to more than 450 models online, and each store carries a wide selection across these styles:
- Squirrel-proof feeders, including the Brome Squirrel Buster family, whose weight-sensitive shrouds close the seed ports when a squirrel climbs on
- Tube feeders for chickadees, nuthatches and finches
- Hopper and platform feeders that give cardinals and other larger birds room to land
- Window feeders for apartments, condos and close-up viewing
- Suet feeders for woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees
Many of the feeders come with lifetime warranties; the Squirrel Buster Plus, for example, is covered for parts and squirrel damage. You can browse the full range in the bird feeders collection before visiting, so you know which models to look at in person.
How Do You Match Bird Seed to the Right Feeder?
Match the seed to the feeder's ports and the birds' feeding style, or good seed ends up on the ground. Tiny Nyjer seed needs a finch feeder with very small ports or fine mesh, sunflower seed works in most tube, hopper and platform feeders, and millet belongs on a tray or platform, where ground-feeding birds such as doves and juncos are comfortable eating.
This is where local staff save you time: describe the birds you want and the feeder you already own, and they can point you to a seed that suits both. For a full comparison of seed types, see the guide to the best bird seed to buy in Canada.
Where Are the Stores, and Can You Order Ahead?
Urban Nature Store has ten locations across the Greater Toronto Area, Durham Region, Hamilton, Niagara and Kingston, all listed within hours on the store locations page. You can also order online and choose store pickup: most pickup orders are ready within 3 hours, and the store phones or emails you when your order is waiting.
If you live outside Ontario, seed and feeders ship anywhere in Canada, and orders over $125 ship free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a small bag of seed to try before committing to a large one?
Yes. The stores bag seed in small sizes as well as bulk, so you can try a new seed with your birds before buying a larger bag.
Can a 50 lb bag of seed be delivered to my home?
No. The largest bulk bags are pickup only, while smaller sizes of each seed ship anywhere in Canada. Black Oil Sunflower, for example, ships in a 6 lb bag, with 9 lb and 50 lb bags available for store pickup.
Does the Urban Nature Store price match?
Yes. If an identical item is offered for less at another local store or on a Canadian website, Urban Nature Store matches the price at the time of purchase.
Do bird feeders come with a warranty?
Many do. Lifetime warranties are common on higher-end feeders such as the Squirrel Buster line, so it's worth asking which models in store carry one before you choose.
