... 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!
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