Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Backyard Birding => Topic started by: Pepsi on June 28, 2011, 10:16:18 PM

Title: Golden Finches
Post by: Pepsi on June 28, 2011, 10:16:18 PM
In previous summers I have had up to 12 golden finches in my yard feeding at one time.  This year I have barely seen any.  Maybe one or two here or there at the feeder.  Has anyone else noticed less of these birds this year?
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Post by: lovemypt on June 29, 2011, 10:38:29 AM
Yes, I too have noticed an absence of Goldfinches. Usually now that the migrants have moved off, I would always have Goldfinches to photo, I did see 10-12 at Riverwood on the weekend and I am sure there are more around but definitely less numbers or they are still late in coming around.
Title: Goldfinches
Post by: Leslie Kinrys on June 29, 2011, 05:17:34 PM
We live in the Bathurst/Sheppard area and there are lots of Goldfinches here. I have them hanging around my feeder. I expect to see even more when our neighbours' sunflowers come out. Recently, I saw about a dozen males sitting in a dead tree. All that yellow looked so lovely.
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Post by: Halton Hills on July 02, 2011, 08:13:17 PM
.


Plenty of them here just west of T.O. near Glen Williams...... :wink:

 
.
Title: Golden finches
Post by: Margaret on July 02, 2011, 08:33:20 PM
Plenty here in Brampton, they love my nyger seed.
Happy to report I have robins nesting in my backyard.
Note to Napper: I'm back from visiting family in Austin and was delighted to see a black-crested titmouse
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Post by: gary yankech on July 03, 2011, 08:33:08 AM
it's weird....when I don't fill my other feeders, the nyger feeder might be full but the goldfinches don't come. But when I fill the suet baskets and others feeders, I get all the birds (woodpeckers, blue jays, doves, sparrows, cardinals, etc...) including lots of  goldfinches. I guess they feel secure in numbers.


Gary Yankech
Title: Re: Goldfinches
Post by: Lloyd on July 03, 2011, 06:10:07 PM
Quote from: "Leslie Kinrys"
We live in the Bathurst/Sheppard area and there are lots of Goldfinches here. I have them hanging around my feeder. I expect to see even more when our neighbours' sunflowers come out. Recently, I saw about a dozen males sitting in a dead tree. All that yellow looked so lovely.

I'm at Yonge and Finch, not too far from you. I see a solitary male almost everyday and hear him sing in the late afternoon. I don't have a feeder for the birds to come to (too many squirrels) but I'll often see the Goldfinch have a bath in a hollow at the end of my driveway after a rainfall.
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Post by: cathief on July 05, 2011, 03:53:54 PM
I have had a nyjer seed feeder out for 4 years now and I have noticed a decline in the numbers of Goldfinch.  l still get a number of House Finches feasting on it.  

Recently I put out a second Nyjer seed feeder, further from my house and less sheltered by trees and the few Goldfinches that are around seem to prefer that feeder.  

I have shut down my mixed seed feeder for now in an attempt to address a Pigeon problem.  As per another posting, the absence of that feeder seems to affect the number of other birds that come to my yard to use the peanut and nyjer seed feeders.

I am at Sheppard and Willowdale.
Title: Goldfinches
Post by: Leslie Kinrys on July 05, 2011, 04:24:52 PM
Hi Lloyd,

If you'd like finches, get a nyger feeder. The squirrels lift the lid and look into my nyger feeder, but they don't like the seeds and leave it alone. You'll attract Goldfinches, Siskins, Redpolls and even the occassional Red-winged Blackbird with nyger.
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Post by: Lloyd on July 05, 2011, 04:37:19 PM
I've thought about getting a nyjer feeder many times. I actually saw one that had rubber "dowels" below each feed hole that would support the weight of a finch-sized bird but nothing else. Pretty clever. I'm still thinking about it.
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Post by: Bluffs Birder on July 06, 2011, 12:38:52 PM
I have a pair of Goldfinches that come to the nyjer feeders several times a day.  This is the first summer that I've had them frequent the backyard here in southern Scarborough.

Walter
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Post by: Howieh on July 06, 2011, 04:59:22 PM
They only visit my feeder a few times a week but at least one pair of goldfinches is around most of the time. I was in Ross Lord park yesterday for a few minutes and there were lots of goldfinches flying all over the place (in the field near the south parking lot).