Attracting Goldfinches?

[NickCantle]

Hello,

We've got a fairly decent sized garden that has visits from many a garden bird. Our Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits feed regularly on both peanut feeders and seed feeders. We've got two nut feeders and one finch seed feeder in front of the house which we watch continuously and we have a station pole with water tray, seed tray, nut feeder and fat ball holder to the side of the house.

We do have a decent variety of birds in the garden and we know the habitat is relatively suitable for Goldfinches to want to visit, but we never seem to see them feeding anywhere other than the lawn. I know they like the Dandelion heads from the grass and can often be found flitting around on the lawn.

What I had in mind is to install a station pole somewhere in the middle of the garden with a Niger seed feeder attached, but I wondered if this would be too obvious to 'tempt' them to feed. I'd like to bring the feeder on the pole closer to the house every week or so, so that eventually we'd have them feeding within decent watching distance. Am I being slightly naîve on this thought, or is it a possibility?

All help and alternatives suggested much appreciated!

Nick

[Chris Yeates]

hi Nick

do I take it that from the above the weather in Norfolk is as awful as up here in Yorkshire, and you've not been out in the field today?

[NickCantle]

I was out trying to get photographs of Fieldfares but the light is pretty rough. It was quite nice today actually, but rather nippy and windy. I like Autumn weather though, and it'll never stop me going out on a foray. Lucky me had Microscope work to do too, but I expect that'll keep for a week

[leifus]

Hi Nick do you realise this is the fungi forum?

anyway, goldfinches.......

buy some niger seed and a feeder to put it in. Then put the feeder on a tree/bush/whatever at a fair distance from your house. It usually takes a while for them to arrive but when they do - and have been on it regularly - move it a little closer to your house. (this is because they are nervous of houses apparently).

they love teasel as well (you can try putting bits of niger seed in the teasel heads )

hope this helps - we dont get many goldfinches but they do take a while to get accustomed

[NickCantle]

How the hell did I put this in the Fungi Forum

I wonder why Chris responded so promptly!

Modsssssss I'll PM someone

Cheers Leif, I think i'll do that

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

....How the hell did I put this in the Fungi Forum ....

And I thought I had problems being unable to identify Honey Fungus.

Still, your post takes you over the 5000 mark - a huge milestone.
Well done & thanks for all your help - past & future..

Regards
Mike.

[wildlifesnapper]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

How the hell did I put this in the Fungi Forum

you'll be in a virtual time warp. Once in you can NEVER escape


p.s. niger seed as stated above

[Hedge Witch]

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

you'll Be In A Virtual Time Warp. Once In You Can Never Escape

ROFL - funny lot

[NickCantle]

Just an update really to say that the Goldfinches have now found my feeder

[Ruth Daniel]

Glad you attracted the Goldies in Nick......I have a pole feeder right outside my lounge window and can often have up to 13 Goldies around it.......they love the sunflower hearts and a hedgehog comes and hoovers the bits up at night!