[obol] Advice regarding American Goldfinches

[sandyleapt at comcast.net]

Hi Betty.  There is a great reference book on birds in Oregon called "Birds of Oregon" published by the Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon.  Its a big, heavy book, but I find myself referring to it constantly.   It explains a lot.  I know Powell's Books carry the book in Portland and you can order it online, I'm sure local book stores in Waldport  or Lincoln City will have it too.

As for Goldfinches feeding on the ground, I had a lot of Goldfinches and Pine Siskins feeding on the ground when I fed thisle seed.   I took the feeders down eventually because of the problem with samonella.  But, while they were up I had a section of green-coated fencing wire about 4' high by 12' to 15' long that I placed in a circle around the feeders (without posts.  I read about this somewhere and found it works).  The birds moved freely through the fence but iIt slowed the cats down to the point they really did not bother the birds.  However, when the samonella problem arose, I ended up with feral cats (which I now feed) because they could catch the sick birds.

Sandy Leaptrott


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: bettyehunt at aol.com
> For the first time since we've lived in Oregon, I have American Goldfinches 
> doing odd (to me) behavior:
> 
>      (a)  Feeding on the ground beneath the thistle feeders.  I have a 
> "carousel" of three tube feeders, and I'm sure a lot of feed gets dropped, but  
> I keep the feeders full or nearly so at all times.  Over the last week or so 
> the birds have been on the ground in good numbers - upwards of a dozen at a 
> time.  I used to have some enormous Euryops beneath the feeders (what a 
> gorgeous picture it was when the Euryops bloomed and the goldfinches were 
> feeding), but they early died last year.  Are the birds just taking the easy 
> way out (they didn't do this last year when there was no cover)?  Thought 
> someone might have an opinion, 'cause I'm afraid the little guys (and girls) 
> might be a bit more vulnerable on the ground.
> 
> Â Â Â Â  (b)Â  Perching on my deck railing and furniture - this is about 50' 
> from the feeders.  They even get into their little "guy fights" that I thought 
> was more to do with position on the feeders.  They're also "exploring" under 
> the covered area of the deck.  They flutter in and out as though looking for 
> something (insects, now that they may have young?) -Â  they've never come 
> anywhere near the house before.  
> 
> I have no idea where/how Goldfinches nest (should do some research, I know), but 
> it seems that there are so many (I've had as many as 24 at once waiting to get 
> at the feeders) they must be nesting somewhere in the area.  Do they use 
> man-made houses/spaces?  They're one of my favorites, because I never believed 
> those pictures on the feeders were real until I moved to Oregon - can't get 
> enough of them!
> 
> Any and all responses are welcome.
> 
> Bettye Hunt
> Waldport
> 
> 
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Subject: [obol] Advice regarding American Goldfinches
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