Questions about Birds and California plants

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Dumb or silly question coming from one who doesn't ask questions unless she has exhausted all known sources to HER. So, here it is.
CalOwn transformed my back yard into a native yard for birds. I love it ! But the seed that falls to the ground from the feeders sprouts and grows. Do you have a suggestion for controlling this ? I have been hand weeding but it is more than I can keep up with. Many of my birds are ground feeders so much of it is consumed but not all. I've gone through the list of options that I've thought of and come up empty. Keeping the ground beneath the feeders dry and broken up seems to be the only thing that works, a little, but ruins the path, the "river" (when it rains) and the irrigation system interferes when it comes on. I'm out of ideas and hoped you might have some. I know you are busy but I would REALLY appreciate any suggestions you might have.

why can't the birds feed themselves?

bake the seed for 30 minutes at 400, or microwave in a popcorn popper

use Toasteoo's from Smart and Final, or rolled oats , probably as good for the birds anyway
buy poppy, chia, and lupine seed(expensive, but then weeding is also)

We have native plant gardens in suburban Encinitas designed by Greg Rubin. The gardens were done in phases beginning in 2001. Since the gardens were installed, the number of birds has increased tremendously. The past few years we feel like we're living in an aviary. We are in our third year of hosting families of Western Bluebirds. In fact, this year's second clutch is about to fledge any day now. The babies started looking out of the birdhouse hole yesterday. We can see them from our kitchen window. Looking out of our windows to the backyard is like watching a Audubon video...its great! In addition to the parent bluebirds and the babies from their first clutch, there are another 16+ (primarily juvenile) bluebirds the past few weeks. At times, it is a scene from "The Birds" movie in the backyard. Needless to say, it has really peeked our interest in Western Bluebirds. I've been reading everything I can about them the internet. One thing that I am unable to find out about is -----at what age the feathers of the juvenile bluebirds change to adult colors. I'm hoping you can help me with the answer...

the pin feathers are grey, mature feathers blue nest built april or may

eggs in a week to ten days

hatch in about three weeks

first flights in about 30 days

parents feed them for about two weeks

second nesting in July or so

Is the Carpenteria californica attractive to birds as well?

nope, just humans

I love quail and would like to plant things they love. Will you have lupinus nanus available?

no we only do perennials
their favorite plant seems to be Salvia 'Pozo Blue'
they're even nesting under them

1. At present I don't know, however I am writing bird pages now for our web site.  I Haven't done the research for the swallow page yet.   Each page will have nesting habitats used by birds and any specific plants they like.  I should have the site done by the end of the Year.(there are a lot of birds in Califonia.)

2. Hello Penny - What a family!  You are all committed to this effort.  I can certainly wait until the end of the year.  You may know this already ( I think you became a biologist?) but there are researchers in California (biologists/ornithologists) that did some papers/research on some of the swallows.  There's a "Brian Williams" (he may be near Santa Cruz; I'm not sure) that has written a thesis and numerous papers on Purple Martins in the West, California and in the Oak Woodlands, etc.  I'm not sure how involved he is with other swallows.  Then, there's the Purple Martin Conservation Association, which I belong to, that is non-profit and has a publicly accessible webpage and an open forum for questions.  You don't need to be a member to visit the website or research their archives for various information that might be helpful for adding bits and pieces to your pages.   Thanks again, and see you folks in the not too distant future.

At present I don't know, however I am writing bird pages now for our web site.  I Haven't done the research for the swallow page yet.   Each page will have nesting habitats used by birds and any specific plants they like.  I should have the site done by the end of the Year.(there are a lot of birds in Califonia.)