tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665671959045576714.post6139560114131087549..comments2024-02-02T01:52:08.452-06:00Comments on Explore Missouri: American GoldfinchShelly Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367843308248195970noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665671959045576714.post-38656693987319986782016-07-27T08:37:01.567-05:002016-07-27T08:37:01.567-05:00I love the Boonville area! The goldfinches are def...I love the Boonville area! The goldfinches are definitely in your area. It might take awhile for them to find your feeder. Also they are typically around in larger numbers in the fall and winter when natural food is harder to find. Shelly Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367843308248195970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665671959045576714.post-51235233313858885242016-07-27T07:07:20.160-05:002016-07-27T07:07:20.160-05:00I have recently moved to Boonville, Mo. I set up m...I have recently moved to Boonville, Mo. I set up my goldfinch feeder but haven't had any as of yet.. Are there any here in Boonville? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665671959045576714.post-19919796920604233432015-06-03T12:55:15.430-05:002015-06-03T12:55:15.430-05:00I recently began seeing finches in my area. I wen...I recently began seeing finches in my area. I went and bought a feeder and thistle seed and haven't seen one since. =(Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02486432010697688341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665671959045576714.post-7552638317713554092011-11-30T17:56:11.934-06:002011-11-30T17:56:11.934-06:00Thank you. I'll try the bleach-water and new s...Thank you. I'll try the bleach-water and new seed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665671959045576714.post-3320052397777146772011-11-30T13:27:50.516-06:002011-11-30T13:27:50.516-06:00I don't believe the oils go rancid, but if moi...I don't believe the oils go rancid, but if moisture gets into the feeder it will mold the seed and the birds will ignore it. They seem to know when the seed has gone bad. The feeder may need to be dumped and thoroughly cleaned with bleach/water (1 part bleach to 5 parts water), rinse well. An alternative to nyger seed would be black oil sunflowers seeds. It is somewhat cheaper, high energy food that they seem to favor in the winter.Shelly Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367843308248195970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665671959045576714.post-21035631552777146882011-11-30T13:23:28.358-06:002011-11-30T13:23:28.358-06:00Does the oil in nyjer seed go rancid if it's l...Does the oil in nyjer seed go rancid if it's left in the sun too long. The finches (all varieties) have ignored my tube feeders for the past month, even though they're about half full. I hate to waste the stuff — it's expensive — but if it's bad, I'll toss it and refill with fresh seed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665671959045576714.post-25343921463691603402009-09-29T09:16:43.836-05:002009-09-29T09:16:43.836-05:00I have finch feeders with thistle, and I usually h...I have finch feeders with thistle, and I usually hang them near other feeders and it doesn't seem to bother the finches. They are pretty gregarious little birds and don't seem to be easily intimidated. It could be some overly aggressive Blue Jays or grackles that are keeping your finches at bay, but I doubt it. The feeder that your father-in-law place out with mixed seed is drawing the finches only because of the thistle, or possibly black oil sunflower seeds it contains. Goldfinches don't typically eat any other seed from feeders except thistle (nyger) or black oil sunflowers. I have gotten into the habit of only putting out black oil sunflower seeds in all my feeders. I find that it helps keep the sparrows and grackles at away, as they prefer cracked corn and small seeds. Finches LOVE black oil sunflowers, and the oils it contains offers them great nutrition for the cold winter months. I'd say be patient, keep the feeder full, they will return. One winter I had over 100 in my front yard ( I finally gave up counting) It was an amazing sight for sure. Good Luck, and keep me posted as the whether or not they return.Shelly Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367843308248195970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665671959045576714.post-8768990994070242962009-09-28T22:02:46.285-05:002009-09-28T22:02:46.285-05:00Thanks for the info. We have a fenced backyard an...Thanks for the info. We have a fenced backyard and have not seen a cat in the backyard (we don't have a cat either), but you never know one could be getting in there when we aren't at home. I have a finch feeder and all I feed them is thistle seed. My father-in-law has some seed in his finch feeder that has thistle and some other seed (small white and round), and he has been having 24-25 finch on his feeder (he lives in Northern Arkansas -- Bella Vista). I also have my feeder on a 2 hook shepherd hook, with a regular bird feeder on the other hook. The disappearance of the finches coincided with my refilling of the other bird feeder and I was afraid a grackel or bluejay may have scared them off. Should I separate the finch feeder or the other feeder to a different hook?HGHumphreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09769462710491269418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665671959045576714.post-55933928520175744822009-09-28T21:41:26.594-05:002009-09-28T21:41:26.594-05:00I don't believe you've done anything wrong...I don't believe you've done anything wrong. Goldfinches nest later in the year than other birds, and it could be that they are busy taking care of offspring.I typically have more in the winter than any time of the year. I noticed for the past few weeks I've had none. I have noticed this phenomena each summer, it always seems to coincide with their nesting season and the native plants going to seed; like Purple Coneflowers or Purple Thistles. Make sure that there hasn't been a sudden appearance of a cat in your neighborhood, as this would also cause them to leave for safer areas. I'm almost certain they will return, possibly in larger numbers once the weather turns colder. Keep providing food,and water, and give them a few weeks and see if they return.Shelly Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367843308248195970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665671959045576714.post-91552880449727065312009-09-28T21:07:31.608-05:002009-09-28T21:07:31.608-05:00I live in a suburb of KC (Liberty) and have had go...I live in a suburb of KC (Liberty) and have had goldfinches at my finch feeder most of the summer. About 2-3 weeks ago, they all quit coming and have not been back. Any idea why? At one time, we had as many as 10 finches on the feeder, so I can't figure out what I've done wrong.HGHumphreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09769462710491269418noreply@blogger.com