why won't goldfinches use nijer feeder? (1 Viewer)

[Amarillo]

I've just moved house and in the old place we had a nijer feeder which was used every day by goldfinches. Now we've moved and have put up the same feeder in the new garden (just across town) There are always plenty of goldfinches around but in a month since being there, I haven't see a single one on the feeder and the level of seed hasn't dropped at all. The other day there was a flock of 10 in the tree very close to it yet they don't go on it.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[fugl]

Niger spoils quickly, particularly if it gets damp, so that may be part of the problem. I would replace the old seed with a fresh supply and see what happens. It sometimes takes birds a surprisingly long time to "discover" a new feeder.

 

[Amarillo]

Yeah I might try that, thanks

 

[Brian2]

Niger spoils quickly, particularly if it gets damp, so that may be part of the problem. I would replace the old seed with a fresh supply and see what happens. It sometimes takes birds a surprisingly long time to "discover" a new feeder.

I'd have said the same...try to replace it after cleaning the feeder, that should bring them back on it....They stopped feeding on Nijer in my garden when I put sun flower hearts out..so that's your next tip from me..no mess either as they eat the whole seed unlike Nijer.B

 

[Aloof1]

Could be lots of things going on here. Maybe Goldfinches aren't as dominate or common in your new area as your old place, By me it is rare to see a goldfinch but a few miles down the road they're everyday and all over. Lots of other choices for food in your area, they may prefer the other choices over what you have. Nijer doesn't last more than three months but birds will generally still eat it, well the house sparrow never cared..haha i found buying the smaller prefilled sacks of Nijer works best when you're trying to get a flock common to your yard. If they find the yard and the new feeder within three monthes they may stick around and favor my yard. If they don't then I just toss the filled sack out after a few months and buy a new one, much cheaper than buying a big bag of thistle and throwing it out.

Also it could be they seen something else in the area like a cat or hawk and are taking it easy going at your feeder for a bit. The location of the feeder can be an issue with the local Goldfinches also.

Nature has lots of reasons we don't know and that is part of the fun.


try buying some new seed or prefilled sack and hang it low and away from the other feeders away from any cover predators can hide.

 

[Julian61]

I put in some new nijer seed today and within minutes six lesser redpoll were battling it out over the feeder. Whenever it's been freshly filled and recently cleaned (within a few weeks anyway) there are usually a mix of goldfinch, siskin (over winter that is) or the redpoll mentioned. Saying that, it's got to be the right winter for the latter two species. Incidentally, one of the redpoll had an orange rather than red crown - is this unusual?

 

[Amarillo]

hmmm I've cleaned and refilled (admittedly from a sack thats getting on a bit, but still looks ok) and still no action

Think I'll try moving it somewhere else and see if they find it, maybe they don't like where it hangs.

 

[Birdhouse Guy]

Hi Julian -
Your observation is not unusual. At least for the American Goldfinch, they are seed eaters. They are what biologist my call granivorous, or a bird that feeds on seeds and grain. It could be that the finch in your yard was trying to get to the seeds in the fruit you set out.

 

[Birdhouse Guy]

Julian -
Common Redpolls are of the finch family, and can be found eating safflower, apple slices, suet, millet, peanut kernels, fruit, and, of course, mixed bird seed. Fruit? Not too uncommon for a Common Redpoll in my observation.

 

[grobble]

Much like my experience.

I had about half a dozen Goldies regularly feeding last year. Despite cleaning and refilling feeder twice, nothing this year except a fleeting visit from singletons that haven't fed and haven't stayed.

 

[walterbyrd]

I'm in Denver, and new to this.

I put up finch socks, and I get mobbed with gold finches.

 

[KC Foggin]

I've gone through 20 lbs of nyger this Spring on the Goldfinches and Pine Siskins. Never, in my history with birds have I ever used that much before.

 

[PumaMan]

I've gone through 20 lbs of nyger this Spring on the Goldfinches and Pine Siskins. Never, in my history with birds have I ever used that much before.

I'm going thru 20 lbs per week, and you know how expensive nyjer seed is. I have three screen feeders and they are mobbed with Lesser Goldfinches and House Finches. I have to refill them every day. I'm going to have to throttle it somehow . . .

 

[sirwired]

I have a single eight-perch feeder, and I go through about a pound a day, I think. I can only imagine how much I'd be plowing through if I used a mesh or sock, because those eight perches are mobbed every morning.

I think I'm up to 60-70 lbs so far this year.

I wish they wouldn't keep me guessing so... I keep buying 10 (instead of 20) lb bags in the hope that the Siskins go ahead and migrate. I don't want to be stuck with a whole bucket of seed my relatively fewer Goldfinches will take forever to finish.