Birding in Tough Economic Times (and a Goldfinch Update)

UPDATE: The finch sock seems to be doing the trick. I’ve seen at least six individual finches hanging around the yard the last couple of days. Here are some better shots of one in the feeder and one having a bite to eat from the new sock.



I’m hoping that I receive enough cash/gift cards at Christmas to purchase a metal garbage can to place in my sunroom (Santa—any metal can with lid will suffice). Now you’re probably wondering why I would ever want to put a garbage can in my living space…to put bird seed in, of course. As much as I enjoy feeding the birds, I don’t enjoy feeding the mice. Living in the country has its many bonuses. Having to deal with mice is not one of them (although Bill, one of our maintenance guys, discovered an ingenious method to deal with mice. But I digress…) If you have purchased bird seed recently, you know how expensive it can be. Protecting one’s investment only makes sense.

Speaking of investments… I came across an excellent article in defense of birdwatching the other day. If you ever need to rationalize this addiction (oops, I mean hobby), I highly recommend you consult this article!

American Goldfinch

I remember the first time I saw an American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis). I was walking down the main stairs of Sidney Dining Hall here at the Lake when a brilliant yellow bird in the brush across the drive caught my attention. (Incidentally, Sidney was replaced by Founders’ Lodge in 2003.) I just stood there mesmerized.

The other day, I was sitting on my couch watching one chickadee after another make its way to the feeder. All of a sudden another bird caught my attention. While it was similar in size to a chickadee, it was certainly not a chickadee. After flipping through one of my bird guides for a few minutes, I positively identified it as a goldfinch with winter/non-breeding plumage. Its plumage only hinted at being yellow, which initially threw me, but once I was able to see it fly in its roller coaster fashion around the yard I was convinced.

I tried my best to slowly make my way closer to the sliding door, but alas goldfinches startle a little more easily than chickadees. Luckily once I stood still at the door for awhile it came back. Actually that’s not entirely true—it took a few false landings before finally perching long enough to pick up a seed. What a beautiful bird.



I had just begun tinkering with the magnifying setting on my camera when the goldfinch in the photo above landed. Hopefully I’ll be able to get some better shots of finches soon—I hung a “sock” feeder filled with a nyjer/sunflower mix yesterday. The finches in my neighborhood are still a little skittish of the new feeder, but there were three of them hanging out on the barren deciduous shrubs in the yard yesterday, so it’s only a matter of time.

For those interested in learning more about the nyjer seed (which is not thistle!), I found a pretty descent article over at Shaw Creek Bird Supply’s website.