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Where have all my Goldfinches gone????? (1 Viewer)

David Smith

David Smith

Warrington Lancs
We used to get lots (as in maybe 10-15 in a visit) then maybe 6 months ago we noticed visits getting less frequent and numbers getting less.
Now it must be 6 months since we have seen one. We changed the feeder in case it was the problem....purchased new niger seen.....NOTHING.

Last year the council went crazy-cutting back all local shrubbery and 50% of trees (in some areas 100% wiped out). Despite various letters they just went ahead and butchered them..........I'm sure that hasn't helped.

Anyone else noticed a similar problem. (as you see I live in north Cheshire).
 
Think they are all in my garden! Have been getting 30-40 a day on the sunflower hearts since the weather got colder - usually get 10-12. Have to refill the 3 feeders at least twice a day.
 
Slightly off tangent but most people I talk to locally and who feed birds comment that Greenfinches seem to have become a very uncommon sight at feeders (north Hampshire)....has anyone else noticed this. It'll be interesting to see the Garden Birdwatch stats this year on these.
 
Hi David,

I've seen the same thing happen here at my feeders with our American Goldfinches. I was stumped...they just disappeared completely for months last year. I asked a birding expert online, Melissa Mayntz, and she told me that Amer. Goldfinches (in particular) are not loyal. They will simply up and leave and find another area/food source despite the fact that your feeders offer a robust supply of food for them. I realize your goldfinches are a different species and may not behave the same way, but from what I learned in a bird biology course this behavior may have to do with evolution. Many songbird species make sure to have several food sources to choose from. They developed this foraging (or survival) strategy for the following reasons: (1) to get variation in their diet and (2) to not rely on one source (in case that source is taken away or depleted for whatever reason). They will keep active and they may come back to your feeders again in the future.

OR...you could have a raptor in the area that you are not seeing. This is what's going on with me. My Mourning Doves, House Finches and Goldfinches have rarely visited my feeders or bird bath for several weeks now. I've spotted the Hawk a couple of times close by my apartment.
 
Last edited:
wildlifelove said:
Have you tried sunflower hearts? There the best in my view for Goldies.
Click to expand...

Not sure your issue is type of food as it seems they've just been moved on by the councils actions but I do agree with wildlifelove on the sunflower hearts, I brought the Goldfinches in with Niger seed but since I started putting out the hearts they always go first before they go back on the thistle.
;)
 
We have loads of Goldfinches in the area, often singing from TV aerials, but I've never seen one on our feeders. No idea why unless they are particularly sensitive to the presence of the bloody cats that hang around our communal garden.
 
I still have loads of them on my feeders (tube feeders). I have tried Niger seeds but they most certainly prefer sunflower hearts in my garden.
 
David Smith said:
Right......I will shop for said tube. Holes will have to be big enough for birds to extract seen but small enough to prevent seed falling out mmm?
Click to expand...
Do not worry about size of holes...... tube feeders are designed to let just a small amount of feed through at a time and they will not spill feed. They are all pretty much standard design although you pay more for the size of the feeder (# of ports) and the material the feeder is made from.
The only thing to watch is that you do not get one of the Niger seed feeders as they are different to ordinary seed feeders.
 
Roy C said:
Do not worry about size of holes...... tube feeders are designed to let just a small amount of feed through at a time and they will not spill feed. The only thing to watch is that you do not get one of the Niger seed feeders as they are different to ordinary seed feeders.
Click to expand...

Jaff said:
These are the kind of ones David http://www.birdfood.co.uk/product_details.php?area_id=2&group_id=24&nav_id=33&prd_id=751
!
Click to expand...

As soon as I posted that response I thought DUH!!
I was thinking 'niger seed tube' but with bigger holes.......I have numerous standard seed feeders but never thought to put sunflower seeds in.
As I say......Duh!!
 
The goldfinches in my garden have gone AWOL too. It isn't a feeder issue as I haven't removed any that they used to feed on (nijer and sunflower hearts). I still see the occasional one, but gone have the days have double figures. Odd.
 
David Smith said:
As soon as I posted that response I thought DUH!!
I was thinking 'niger seed tube' but with bigger holes.......I have numerous standard seed feeders but never thought to put sunflower seeds in.
As I say......Duh!!
Click to expand...

Beware though other birds besides finches are getting a taste for Sunflower Hearts as you have discovered and they're not even safe in a feeder.
My Woodies have developed a liking for them and now they'll sit there and hog the whole feeder! 3:)
 
David Smith said:
As soon as I posted that response I thought DUH!!
I was thinking 'niger seed tube' but with bigger holes.......I have numerous standard seed feeders but never thought to put sunflower seeds in.
As I say......Duh!!
Click to expand...
Just to make sure David, but we are talking sunflower hearts and not seeds.
 
Well Sunflower seeds (black or striped) would probably do just as well and are cheaper but the seed casings will make a hell of a mess below your bird feeders that you'll have to clear up with a brush and a shovel. That's the whole point behind sunflower hearts is that they are sunflower seeds with the casings already removed. Does make a bit of mess but no where near as bad as feeding the ordinary sunflower seeds and usually ground feeding birds will pick off the bits that fall to the floor. I got 10kgs of them today for £18, that being the downside of them in that if you get lots of finches you'll need a mammoth bag to last you through the winter. I certainly do ;)
 
Jaff said:
Well Sunflower seeds (black or striped) would probably do just as well and are cheaper but the seed casings will make a hell of a mess below your bird feeders that you'll have to clear up with a brush and a shovel. That's the whole point behind sunflower hearts is that they are sunflower seeds with the casings already removed. Does make a bit of mess but no where near as bad as feeding the ordinary sunflower seeds and usually ground feeding birds will pick off the bits that fall to the floor. I got 10kgs of them today for £18, that being the downside of them in that if you get lots of finches you'll need a mammoth bag to last you through the winter. I certainly do ;)
Click to expand...
The seeds most certainly do not do as well as hearts for me - maybe the Devon birds are different to yours :-O
 

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