Gold finches

[HD]

Do they migrate early?  I have not seen many for awhile, and I had 16 to 20 at the feeder all the time. 

[HD]

No birders on here? 

[Lee Borgersen]

OK OK! Let me dust off the cobb webs here a minute. This was the worst season in years for finches around my feeders. We used to have yellow finches along with red finches every spring.
This year we only had a small amount of either. Although we've had a scant few red finches stick it out all summer. We put out the Niger seed as usual but never had to fill it all summer. Have no Idea what's happened this year.

Still have plenty of other species here daily. Borgie likes this expensive seed for one of the feeders with seed fruit and nuts. It has a good size reservoir but the birds thrash through it and knock plenty of the seed to the ground. Speaking of seeds on da ground. We have squirls rabbits, skunks & coons, and this year a groundhog eating all da droppings. The skunks & coons are only at night.

[Retired on Osakis]

I haven't seen any for awhile either. According to my bird book they migrate just far enough south to find food. A small percentage stay all winter. Didn't say when they started migrating though. That's all I got for ya.

[LPS]

We feed thistle feed and we feed sunflowers too.  Now that you mention it we didn't have as many Gold Finches as we usually do.  Had a lot of junkos a couple of days ago.  Like 50 of them. 

[glenn57]

I feed da birds to. But tired tonight!

[markn]

Now you mentioned it I haven't seen any finches for awhile. I think the humming birds may have split too.

[glenn57]

i feed strictly sunflower seeds and thistle seed. i do however mix sunflower seeds with safflower seeds for a type of cardinal mix.

hummers are long gone, havent seen any yellow finches yet, do have purple finches around as well as morning doves. sure wish i could get a few red breasted grosbeaks!!!!!!!!! also have cardinals around. juncos are also fun to watch but havent seen but a few of them.

[Rebel SS]

I'm under "attack'' by ruby-crowned kinglets. They're everywhere! My crab apple is loaded with them flitting here and there. I think they're grabbing the bees and bugs that are flying round the ripe apples. Also a lot of Robins flying into the windows on the house..*thud*...they HAVE to be the idjits of the bird world. Every year I have this; lasts for weeks. Only bird that smacks themselves into the windows AND the house....picked up four dead ones.

kinglet 

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[glenn57]

nice picture reb! so whats flitting????????? something you and da nei....................ah never mind!!!!!!!!!

you ever get them cedar waxwings around with that crab apple tree????????? them birds are super cool looking!

[dew2]

We feed gold finches year round.Their there HD just not in breeding colors,Some migrate but if food is onhand they stay all winter.Heres a pic of non breeding colored gold finch,They look similure ti a number of birds when not breeding colored

[Rebel SS]

nice picture reb! so whats flitting????????? something you and da nei....................ah never mind!!!!!!!!!

you ever get them cedar waxwings around with that crab apple tree????????? them birds are super cool looking!
[/quote

Yup, won't let me upload my Youtube vid of 'em. Dammit!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rebel SS]

nice picture reb! so whats flitting????????? :

 

flit
flit

verb
gerund or present participle: flitting
move swiftly and lightly.
"small birds flitted about in the branches"
synonyms:   dart, dance, skip, play, dash, trip, flutter, bob, bounce
"dragonflies flitted across the pond"
BRITISH

[glenn57]

oh i know what it means!!!!!! think your missing something!!!!!!!!!

[Rebel SS]

I ain't missin'nuttin', scooter.     

[HD]

The reason I ask, is because I was filling my finch feeder 2 to 3 times a week all summer. I filled it the last time 3 weeks ago, and it's still 1/2 full.

[dew2]

 This time of year the wild flowers are dried and that seed is consumed by so many different species including finches.So ya maybe they arent using yer feeder much,Come winter you may have 1/2 of spring/summer populations but they will be there even in winter lots of tall perennials hold seed and birds go to them besides home feeders

[LPS]

Flit is a good word.  We will have to make that the word of the day.  I shall now flit out of here.  Now everyone use the word flit at home once tonight.  I will.  Can wait to see the look the wife gives me. 

[Rebel SS]

Excellent idea, LPS! We should have a Word-a-day thread, and use the word during your day.
 I had leftover kabobs, rice, and some chicken thighs off the grill. I ate too much. I must now FLIT to the bathroom quick.   

[glenn57]

Excellent idea, LPS! We should have a Word-a-day thread, and use the word during your day.
 I had leftover kabobs, rice, and some chicken thighs off the grill. I ate too much. I must now FLIT to the bathroom quick.   

the only place you "flit" to is the NL.

[hawg]

Dew2-You sure that's not a Pine Siskin? My birds of all kinds were down a ton this year.

[glenn57]

You sure that's not a Pine Siskin? My birds of all kinds were down a ton this year.

think its to small, and you usually dont see them till dead of winter if i recall!!!!!!!

[dew2]

 Gold Finch read>>>http://www.inforum.com/sports/outdoors/4162296-jacobs-goldfinches-lead-cavalcade-winter-bird-species

[HD]

If the finches are still around, do they change their diet? I have left the finch feeder up for the last 2 months, and it's still full. I checked it the other day to see if it was moldy, and it was not. 

[delcecchi]

I don't know if they change their diet.  Around here it is black sunflower seeds or find your own.   But they are still around I think.  Lots of other seeds this time of year, and they drop the gold feathers and get sort of olive drab.   

Been right many birds at my feeders this fall.  And a couple freeloading deer.