... is a good day to say goodbye to my finch friends.
Justin got me this bird feeder last Christmas and I quickly attached it to my kitchen window. That seemed like the perfect place - I could reach it to refill the tray with seed, it was right by my chair at the kitchen table so I could see any birds that visited, and there were no good ways for the squirrels to get into it. I filled it with seed and waited for the birds to find it.
And they did find it within a couple of weeks. I've had cardinals, finches, and even a nuthatch or two. After a while it was mainly the finches that came, and they only seemed to eat the sunflower seeds and leave the rest.
I finally got the hint and started filling the feeder with unsalted sunflower kernels. John thought I was nuts, but seeing the finches regularly for their breakfast, lunch, and dinner made me happy.
Last week they seemed to be visiting less frequently and by Saturday I realized that I hadn't seen any of them for a couple of days. Even though we're in an area where finches can live here year-round, some house finches from the northeastern U.S. do move south for the winter. I feel a bit sad without their frequent visits and I didn't even say goodbye. (I realize this sounds kind of silly but I do miss them.) I'm just going to keep the feeder filled and hope that maybe some sweet chickadees and other birds find it this winter. Maybe the finches will even return in the spring.
Here's hoping you've got birds at your feeder and any other wildlife in your yard is not eating your landscape plantings.
I hope you get visits from some other bird friends -- I'm sure that as the weather gets colder, they'll appreciate finding some easy food!
ReplyDeleteI have noted an increase in gold finch activity in my backyard recently! But this is week two without a single hummingbird sighting... sigh. I will miss those little friends! I hope they are having safe travels to their winter homes!
ReplyDeleteI live in the South, and I have been feeding the birds for years. I have found over the years that they always stop eating at the feeders this time of year. They have lots of other natural food available to them now. Don't despair, they will be back! Mine come back when the nuts, seeds, and berries are all eaten or gone. I love your feeder, Bonny. If it keeps the squirrels out, it's a winner.
ReplyDeleteI do love having bird feeders around and seeing all the different birds that visit. Our finches are still active here and we are starting to see chickadees and tufted titmice. Cardinals are always around. The squirrel destroyed my window feeder (office window) last year. Fletch got me a new feeder that I will hang from a shepherd's crook (need to get that) by the window.
ReplyDeleteWe have several bird feeders and I love seeing them. Right now we are overrun with sparrows! We have goldfinches year round, as well as house finches and purple finches.
ReplyDeleteOur sunflowers seem to be really popular with birds (probably finches) right now. I hope your finches come back. We've had a lot of doves in the neighborhood this year, and just lately, quail.
ReplyDeleteI've got birds at my other feeder and I'm sure the "winter" birds will be showing up when the weather gets colder. I bet the finches will be back in the spring. We always have doves but never quail. You're lucky to have them!
DeleteI love watching birds at the feeders, but stopped feeding them about a year ago. I had so much trouble with racoons and deer emptying and destroying the feeders. The racoons just tear the feeders apart! Maybe I'll try again later this fall.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you have deer and raccoon problems! My problems are mostly with squirrels but at least I can still feed the birds. Maybe a squirrel-proof feeder would keep raccoons out? (But they are pretty smart!)
DeleteI've got a black vulture knocking on my deck door right now. He/she (I can't tell) is waiting for its daily can of cat food. Its two babies showed up at lunch time for theirs. They usually take off at this time of year for parts unknown to encourage the youngsters to find their own mates but they are still hanging around driving me crazy. The babies are like puppies. Whatever they can get their beaks on, they play with. I fear for my deck lights.
ReplyDeleteI may be lamenting the departure of my finch friends, but I am glad that I don't have a family of vultures demanding food! I hope for your sake that they depart soon and look for some roadkill and mates.
DeleteIf you leave your feeder up and filled . . . you may be surprised to get some migrating visitors! Our "summer finches" migrate south, but then we get "farther northern finches" moving in to live in our garden for the winter! The cardinals will likely stay -- and you may find titmice and chickadees and maybe even some juncos coming in for the winter! (The juncos will feed off the ground -- so make sure to spill some of the seeds when you fill your feeder! XO
ReplyDeleteInteresting that the finches in your neighborhood migrated. We have finches year round. Sometimes there are very few gold finches that hang around but usually some do. I bet you will see some chickadees and maybe a cardinal or two. I agree with Kym, keep that feeder filled for awhile and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteLast year I put a feeder on my bedroom deck (second floor) and put a tray feeder and a heated water tray out to attract winged friends. I use "no waste" bird seed mix from my local bird shop and find it attracts many varieties of bird friends. In winter I get more chickadees, juncos other small birds (nuthatches?), but the finches are my constants. Also, an occasional scrub jay comes by (he has peanuts on the carport roof and for some reason the squirrels never come to that spot). The mourning doves visit at least once a day. I am constantly filling my feeder and love to watch the birds that happen my way.
ReplyDeleteI took our birdfeeder down in the spring, but it'll be time to put it back up again! Maybe soon, as I've had migrators before & that's kind of cool. I'm sure it won't be long before your birdfeeder is rediscovered!!
ReplyDeleteI guess that means fall really IS on the way. I've noticed that the birdsong I hear in the morning is mostly jays, fish crows, and cardinals that stay all year round.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could have a feeder, but we have feral cats next door that would love fresh snacks.
It's time to put away my thistle feeder and switch to my all bird feeder. I have to make sure it's cold and the resident raccoon doesn't eat it all. (we bring it back inside at dusk)
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