[obol] On goldfinches and birdseed

[Andy Frank]

I'd like to think that some of what is included here may be helpful for at least someone out there in OBOLand, but perhaps I just want to share my new yard bird good fortune.

I live on a fairly small lot in NW Portland that fortunately does have a few mature trees as well as some shrubs.  When I started birding nearly 5 years ago, I got a house-shaped feeder and had been using the Portland Audubon's "Merry Mix."  I was always pleased to see the sparrows and chickadees.  I later added a tube feeder, and then a 2nd tube feeder.  Wanting to have goldfinches and siskins stop by, I went to get a thistle feeder and originally got the tube-shaped feeder with plastic sides and small openings for the birds to get the thistle.  We were very excited to finally get a single American Goldfinch one day, and some time later a single Lesser Goldfinch, but hoping for more, much more, I then went and got the black sock feeder.  Nothing.  So then I got the white sock feeder.  Also nothing, other than an occasional nibble by a chickadee.

I recently read "Why don't woodpeckers get headaches?" by Mike O'Connor (as an aside, it's a very humorous book in a question and answer format with some useful information) in which he advises against using a mix for birdseed.  I then spoke with someone who had a regular flock of American Goldfinches in his yard and learned he was feeding them sunflower hearts and chips.  So I put that in my tube feeder and about a week later, we had 3 Lesser Goldfinches.  I was ecstatic.  Over the past 2 weeks the numbers have increased to where we now have about 20!  They seem to love this seed and when it's crowded, they will sometimes even eat some of the thistle.

It's been wonderful getting to watch all of them from close range, and to contrast their feeding style with the other birds.  They typically sit on the perch and stay there until done, whereas the always-in-motion Black-capped Chickadees grab a bite and then fly to a nearby branch to eat it.  It was fascinating watching one Black-capped Chickadee grab a fairly large piece which flew to a perch where it held the piece with one foot against a branch and proceed to peck away at it. The goldfinches do spill a fair amount of seed onto the ground, so now we also are getting far more juncos and towhees than usual.  It's been great fun.

Andy Frank
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