Blasted Goldfinches! The Downside!

Hintza

I read an article on how to attract Goldfinches to the garden, I knew we had them around but didn't see them much. So for the last two months I have been putting out Niger Seed with not much effect until a fortnight ago.

Now i am being eaten out of house and home! There are only 5 of them but I don't think they lift their heads from the feeder from dawn until dusk and as a result are consuming 1kg of seed in 2-3 days!! The pet shop sells it at £2.40 / kg so have now had to go to plan B and have just ordered 25Kg...ouch.

Mutter_2

I'm off to the farm shop for Niger seed then. Have most birds on the feeders including the Greater Spotted Woodpecker, but no Goldfinch to my knowledge. Thanks for the tip.

Hintza

Mutter wrote: »

I'm off to the farm shop for Niger seed then. Have most birds on the feeders including the Greater Spotted Woodpecker, but no Goldfinch to my knowledge. Thanks for the tip.

Just ensure you get a proper Niger feeder. I bought a small one from the pet shop but have just upgraded:-

http://www.jacobijayne.co.uk/while-stocks-last/birdfeeder-bargains/bird-lovers-collection-niger-feeder/

Ordered seed from here after much searching:-

http://www.food4wildbirds.co.uk/bird-seed-bird-nuts-c-567.html?zenid=9066e081f6359920f293378ebcf1f2b3

louisdog

I had a similar problem but with siskins! They are eating a feeder's worth of niger seed each day. The goldfinches did turn up for niger seed but have now moved on to the regular seed feeders, which have always been there.

And don't the niger husks make a mess of the lawn under the feeder!

Still, lovely to watch the birds.

Our latest visitors are a pair or pheasants, foraging under the feeders!

Raksha

I have seen flocks of Goldfinches in my garden, and have Niger seed in feeders - but the fussy little whatsits totally ignore it

Mutter_2

Thanks Hintza, so feeder too on the list.
I too had a Pheasant feeding on the table Loisdog, called him "the poor man's peacock" strutting around the lawn. Then a blasted cat got it. Heard its death screams in the early hours. If only people would keep their cat in till daybreak, he and many other birds would still be here.

Hannah2

I am getting groups of 5 or 6 goldfinches at a time and I only have a feeder with sunflower hearts in it. I also put some on the bird table and some on a tray on the floor for the blackbirds. Unfortunately some pigeons have discovered me and they swoop down and suction the lot scaring off the goldfinches and greenfinches as they do it :mad:

Maybe I should try some Niger seed

Mutter_2

Nyger (as Pets at Home spell it) in special feeder hanging on tree now.The feeder has a tray that fits underneath but that then blocks the two lowest perching rods, we thought perhaps the tray was for mounting on a pole? We've left it on anyway, may catch some of the husks Louisdog mentioned.
OH bought a good thing for feeding, just screw on to a 2 litre pop bottle, so lasts a bit longer between refills. Also doesn't require cleaning, just use another empty bottle. Bought in a garden centre for £2.50.
I'm sure everyone knows this but just a reminder to keep feeders clean, especially where peanuts get stuck in the base and become mouldy. Don't want to kill rather than feed baby birds.
I feel a right bossy boots having said that!

There was a great thread on green fingered moneysaving with all to do on a camera inside a nest box. Personally couldn't cope with watching tragedy if the birds died but very interesting.
Am I alone in loving Woodpidgeons? They are so funny and selfish, sitting on the seed rather than sharing. You know the saying "if it walks like a duck" etc.? Well watch them, they walk like them, their neck operates like one and they squat on the grass just as a duck does.

The oddest thing for me, loving the birds so much, is that if one flew indoors, I'd be on the floor covering my head, as I can't stand the flapping.

Hintza

Cheeky beggers are multiplying, now at least 7 of them, jungle drums are obviously beating loudly. :rotfl:

Andybez38

I often get goldfinches feeding at the feeders in my garden. I have niger seed and sunflower hearts on offer and have found they seem to prefer the sunflower hearts. If theres no room on that feeder some choose not to miss out and go to the niger feeder.
What i have found with the niger seed is alot falls to the floor and wasted. wheras if the sunflower hearts fall or remains fall from the birds beak. The hungry pigeons and collard doves clean up under the feeder.

Hintza

Today a Siskin arrived but took one look and seems to have fled again in horror at the bad behaviour the little thugs are showing (they now number 8-9 hard to say in the melee).

They now constantly bicker very noisily amongs themselves since the new ones have arrived. No doubt the Sparrowhawk will pay them a visit soon and probably nail one or two of them since they can't concentrate on anything apart from fighting. Fortunately I feed them in and around a hawthorn hedge so the other birds just hide in that when the hawk appears, very comical watching them all dodge from side to side of the hedge staying out its way.