goldfinch feeding

[paddy]

Sorry - I know there was a thread on this last year, but can't find it. Just wanted to report that following a tip posted there re goldfinches being 'unsociable feeders': Last year, i put a feeder of nyger out in autumn, and it lasted almost all winter, until mould grew on them. This was part of a feeder pole arrangement.
This year, i moved the feeder about 20ft away and hung it on a pergola. It now needs re-filling every three days, and i've noticed not only what 'calm' feeders these birds are -spending long enough on the feeder to get great photos - but also how polite they are with each other. While two are feeding, another three or four sit in a nearby crab apple tree waiting for a vacancy.
I told a friend about this, and he's had simiar results. Quite a contrast with the fat ball feeder in the foreground, with the constant squabbling of the starlings.
An old thread, but perhaps worth reporting on, as it seems to have been a good year for perhaps what is the most striking on the garden visitors...

[Rob_D]

Sorry Paddy, are you saying the goldfinch nyger feeder would be better away from the other seed feeders?

Mine is currently close between a caged sunflower hearts feeder (to keep the starlings out) and a hanging table, which lets them on. All three swing around alot as they're hung on the washing line! I'm getting one or two goldies, but nothing like as regular as I'd like. Also the odd Greenie in the tree, but they won't come to the feeders.

Rob

[paddy]

Yup - haven't heard this about other birds though. Coal tits seem to be the most nervous feeders - there and gone in a second - but don't mind mixing it with the others. I've had 5 or 6 long-tails come down to feeders about 10 ft from the house......Goldies, however, like their own area, and some distance from the other feeders. They're messy, though, and spill a lot. I think nyger is a species of thistle, so it might be worth considering a sheet of something directly below the feeder. The one time i welcome pigeons is when i see them clearing up under the pergola.

[ron1863]

I've tried every type of bird food and have yet to entice a Goldfinch into the garden, yet I see them feeding on thistles across the river

[DaiTheDragon]

My Goldfinch feeders are a little distance from the main feeders and as they are specific Nyger feeders the only other birds that feed on them are the Siskin.
Don't be too worried about the seed that falls to the ground as I think all bird seed is treated so that the seeds can't germinate.

Dai

[Ollie]

Don't be too worried about the seed that falls to the ground as I think all bird seed is treated so that the seeds can't germinate.
Dai

It's only the Godfinches and the Siskins that use my niger feeders and I think Dai is right about the seeds not germinating as we never get anything, or at least nothing to bother about growig under the niger feeders
Roger

[nightshade]

We feed them sunflower hearts, there are two six perch feeders and three
peanut feeders all in the same tree Goldfinches, Sparrows, Greenfinches all
feeding happily together until the female Blackcap turns up and she drives them all off

[Susie]

My nyger germinates and last year I had huge clumps of lawn sprouting up in the most alarming fashion. This year it is flower bed so it doesn't matter as I can just hoe it over.


The nyger feeders are amongst the other bird feeders (one peanut feeder, one sunflower heart feeder, one fat ball feeder and one hanging covered bird table that I can put scraps or mealworms on as well as the apples I put out) and there has never been a problem with the goldfinches taking their food from among the other birds. I get about a dozen goldfinches at a time but occasionally there are up to 20 waiting their turn.

[Davy Crockett]

my goldies like plenty of room around them, a minimum of 15 feet from the house and quite open really

[Pippa]

My Goldies have 4 feeders about a metre from my front window and they don't appear nervous at all.We have lots of thistle in the area so the Goldies come in for the Sunflower hearts which they love.We have about 20 at a time and i am thrilled.