Talkback: Goldfinches - Talkback

oldchippy

31/08/2012 at 14:27

Kate I remember on my way to school when I was about 8 seeing Goldfinches in some one's garden and thinking how wonderful they looked and how we never had bird's like that in our garden,I thought they were quite exotic and where did they get them, now I know if you want Goldfinch in your garden all you need to do is grow the right plant's that they feed on.I'm not sure I like cranefly the way you seem to.

Oldchippy.

Kate Bradbury

31/08/2012 at 18:38

Thanks Oldchippy. Now what's wrong with the cranefly? Just because the goldfinch is better looking ;)

kaycurtis

31/08/2012 at 21:34

Dear Kate I have green finches visiting my garden along with loads of other birds, although the only one's that that will stay around if they catch site of me is the cheeky little Robins, like you I have trains at the bottom of my garden I actually live in a road where the trains run down either side of the road so affectively we're in a cutting, at the end of my garden is the fast train to Gatwick, so fast moving trains every 15 minuits, the birds don't care they get used to it. I also have most of the dogs in the district being looked after by the people next door even the continuouse barking hasn't chased all the birds away, the woodpecker doesn't like it though.

higgy50

01/09/2012 at 00:40

Goldfinches really are one of our 'special, birds aren't they? thier colour is so vibrant and they are great fun to watch on garden feeders or even better flower seed heads!

When we moved into our house about two years ago I used to see a large group of Goldfinches in the garden two doors down but they never ventured onto my feeders! In a bid to attract them I started feeding Niger Seeds and within days we had a regular procession of these beautiful birds in the garden.

Over winter I leave all the seed heads on the plants in my large perennial border such as Rudbeckia and of course sunflowers amongst others. We now get regular raiding parties of up to a dozen finches coming into the garden where they often spend hours feeding on these seed heads.

So if you want to keep them coming start feeding Niger seed and don't be to keen to chop down your perennials until next spring, you might be surprised who comes to visit!!..

higgy

http://higgysgardenproject.blogspot.co.uk/

Ron

01/09/2012 at 09:00

They still sound nice even when squabbling, sadly mine seem to have gone on holiday for a few weeks.

oldchippy

01/09/2012 at 10:35

It's a shame that Teasel's don't keep there flowers for longer,My patch of Teasel's are getting bigger but still only last for a couple of day's,The seed head's look great if I can keep them standing up right.

Oldchippy.

AndytheScientist

06/09/2012 at 16:57

It's amazing how much difference the type of food makes to the visitors you get.. i always wonder how on earth the birds find their way to your food.

When we moved out into the country the first thing i did was get a feeding station up and running, baring in mind the garden was a 20 m2 piece of grass with not a single plant in it, so no shelter, i wasn't expecting too much at first.. Boy was i wrong, I put up mixed seed and peanuts, as well as some fat balls, first to arrive were obviously the blue tits, great tits, sparrows and starlings. Then came the green finches and some yellow hammers eating the scraps off the ground. Then a woodpecker appeared, and a pied wagtail started to visit along with chaffinches. Interestingly no gold finches.

So last week i got a nijer feeder and stuck it up, and litterally withing an hour gold finches started to appear, now i have them forming lines to visit.. Next i'm hopeing for a siskin!

ladycruiser

06/09/2012 at 18:27

I have as many as 20 Goldfinch at a time two or three times a day. They seem to come in a flock (sorry charm) and all fly away together. I feed Niger seed and chopped sunflower hearts. I also get Green Finch most types of Blue Tits Tree Creepers and sparrows. We also have resident blackbirds and a Jenny Wren in the garden.

flowering rose

06/09/2012 at 19:42

here in the city we also have goldfinches and a good variety of widlife as well as birds.in fact I see more here than when I am out in the countryside.

ladycruiser

06/09/2012 at 20:35

I live on the outskirts of a big city and besides rhe birds I have squirrels andn hedgehogs visiting daily

grai

07/09/2012 at 02:46

I heard somewhere that for some unknown reason while other bird populations are being devastated goldfinches are increasing in number - hope its true - I love them

wish they'd find out where all the birds are going though - and help the farmers grow food without being so toxic to wildlife - money isnt everything

lilwead

07/09/2012 at 08:31

We have about 20 descend on our feeders, just as they fledge. They balance on any available perch, including the washing line, just to squabble over who gets first eats! I love watching them. It all started about 4 yrs ago with one pair, and it's gone crazy since. Even the cats steer clear, as they will turn on any cat as a group....visions of Hitchcocks 'The Birds'.....! We saw a tabby, running for it's life, with about 8 battering at it's face, obviously it had caught one. Never did find out the outcome of that sad little battle.

tony williams2

22/09/2012 at 22:14

We live in deepest darkest scunthorpe,with a hope to attract birds to our garden we tried all sorts of combinations of seeds untill we tried white sunflower seeds now we have goldfinches,house sparrows,green finches,great tits, blue tits dunocks,robins and more. We had lots of birds before but since white sunflower seeds its gone crazy long may it continue.

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