Goldfinches, Siskins and Red Feeders

[Angie]

We see siskins occasionally so a few weeks ago I thought I would try and encourage them into the garden with a red peanut feeder which the squirrels have nearly destroyed!

This morning I actually had a siskin but he was on the stainless steel peanut feeder not the red one. Totally ignored it. He did find one of the mesh seed trays when he was bumped off the peanut feeder by the tits though.

The siskins like nyger seed but I have given up on this feeder as most of it gets thrown away. I have put a mesh tray with nyger seed and finch seed under the trees where I sometimes see goldfinches. The chaffinches also congregate in this area so I thought they might like it too and encourage the goldfinches and siskins. So far the chaffinches have ignored it, but robins, blue & great tits and a blackbird feed from it.

Any other ideas for goldfinches?

[Adey Baker]

Most species seem to go for sunflower seed, either whole or just the hearts

[Angie]

I go for the whole sunflower seeds on the basis that they might last longer! Not sure if this is good logic, as the quite large sunflower feeder gets emptied every day.
This feeder is monopolised by the blue and great tits which I think puts off a lot of the other small birds. On RSPB bird count day, not many tits were around and the other small birds put in quite an appearance. I haven't seen any finches on this feeder though.

[Fraser Milne]

I use a mix of niger and sunflower hearts - never had so many goldfinches!

[IanF]

Sunflower hearts work best for us with most species but especially the Goldies - less mess too as there are no husks. Colour of feeder doesn't seem to make much difference.