Niger, not just for Goldfinches

[Andy Holt]

When we moved into a new house last year we had noticed the odd Goldfinch in the field at the rear of our property. We purchased a niger feeder to see if we could lure them into the garden, and sure enough we have been getting regular visits from a small group of Goldfinches ever since.

In December we noticed a few Redpolls near our house and within a couple of weeks a single bird was visiting our Niger feeder every day. The next arrival was a solitary Siskin and then within a few weeks we had mixed groups of 6-10 birds, all queing up to feed on the niger (to be fair the Siskins also spend alot of time on our nut feeders).

As of today (6th March 04) we still have a group of Redpolls and Siskins visiting every morning.

I share this story to encourage anyone who might be thinking about whether it's worth putting up a niger feeder. I originally viewed the purchase as a risk, thinking that if the Goldfinches didn't come then we might have ended up with a feeder sitting there being ignored. It just shows how wrong you can be and how unexpected visitors can turn up when you least expect them!

[Ruby]

Very nice Andy - you're very lucky.

I mentioned in another thread that we have a niger seed feeder, which does attract the (very!) occasional Siskin. Have had a flock of Redpolls in the garden once, but not on a feeder. Lovely birds...

[Elizabeth Bigg]

My siskin numbers peaked at 72 two weeks ago, but 50+ is the norm now. Unfortunately this has rather crowded out the goldfinches - and it was to attract them that I first put up the niger feeders! This week I have only had 2 goldfinches, when the number had been as high as 19 on occasion.

There is an earlier thread on this topic: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=12291

[Marmot]

You have made me jealous, all we get on our Niger feeder are Goldfinches and the occassional Greenfinch. We do have a Teasel plant in the garden which the Goldies also take it from.
There seems to be a shortage of Redpoll & Siskin in this area, they are obviously in your and Elizabeths garden .
A nice group shot by the way.

[AnnieW]

I've not had any siskins or goldfinches show any interest in the niger - but it has been worth putting it up to watch the antics of the bullfinches which seem to love it.

http://birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=13078

[Elizabeth Bigg]

You have made me jealous, all we get on our Niger feeder are Goldfinches and the occassional Greenfinch. We do have a Teasel plant in the garden which the Goldies also take it from.
There seems to be a shortage of Redpoll & Siskin in this area, they are obviously in your and Elizabeths garden .
A nice group shot by the way.

Well you can have this siskin to console you - and a goldfinch. My husband took these today while we were receiving some expert tuition in digiscoping.

[griffin]

I put up a Niger Seed feeder in Jan, and there were 7 siskins and 4 goldfinches there the next day - couldn't believe it ! Had previously only seen 1 male siskin in December and the Goldies would not come in the garden. We live right in the centre of Aberdeen,though there is a Park nearby. The numbers peaked at 25 Siskins all at the same time about a month ago.