goldfinch feeding

[psychocat17]

Hi,
New bird fan here. I put up a white net sock type feeder filled with thistle seed (black nyger). I've had it up several weeks. Does the seed go bad? The gold finches are only there occasionally and last year it seems I had lots more. Any advice?

[columbidae]

I've heard if the thistle seed gets wet it can develop mold which can be toxic to birds, so be careful.

Last year I tried one of those sock feeders and didn't have much luck with it. It ended up half-full, just hanging there dirty and limp and sort of revolting looking until I took it down. And this is in an area where we have lots of goldfinches. It might be better to just buy a regular thistle feeder.

[Sylvia]

And i have the opposite to report. 3:-)

Our goldfinches absolutely love the sacks. We do have a tube feeder, which they also visit. But the sacks, disreputable looking as they are, get the most activity by far.

Interestingly, we bought a new BLACK one (they do wear out after a while), thinking it would be even more popular since it's the color of the seeds. Nope. It hung untouched for weeks. One day i noticed the goldfinches were landing on a hanger/stand that had a sack feeder on it last year, but this year we had something else (a hummer feeder and a small solar-powered light). So i switched things around and hung the new black feeder there. Bingo!

So keep trying. And do change the seed from time to time, especially after rainy periods and you can feel the seed is staying wet.

[A Twang Theme]

They won't touch the nyger in my garden, they prefer the sunflower hearts. I'll have to get one of these socks, see if they take a liking to it.

[Chuck A Wulla]

I started out with a thistle feeder that both house finches and lesser gold finches seem to go for. I replaced it with a white sack thistle feeder and after a short delay, it was being used. When I put both out, the clear plastic feeder seemed the more popular though. It hasn't rained for almost two months and none is forecast soon. I worry a little about the summer heat though. With daytime temps exceeding 43 deg C/110 deg F in the shade, what happens to the seed in direct sunlight? I notice the birds only come around during the cooler hours.

[orangie30]

Interesting thread about the success/lack of success with sock-type feeders. I live in Upstate New York and recently moved into the city of Rochester, where our neighbors said they had never seen a goldfinch! I put out some old socks I had and immediately got purple finches, but no goldfinches. I bought some new socks (pre-filled with thistleseed) at WalMart. They are a tighter texture, bright white, and the purple finches wouldn't touch them. I let the old ones run out, the purple finches stopped coming, and then, a couple of days later, goldfinches came and the numbers have become astronomical. As I'm writing this, there are at least 30 out there. Our neighbors no longer think we're crazy! Try the pre-filled socks and see if your luck changes. Cheers...Dave

[KCFoggin]

During the quieter times, I only fill the sock less than half way. Doesn't hurt so bad when I replace it a week later with fresh seed.

[KCFoggin]

Hi Dave and a warm welcome to the Bird Forum from Admin and Moderators.

I've seen the pre-filled socks you speak of and honestly thought I wouldn't get much action with them. Now you have me re-thinking here.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

I had hoped to attract goldfinches to my garden, having had occasional visits from these attractive birds, and put out niger seed - on their rare visits they ignored it completely, as they did the teasles I had grown specially for them. My sister-in-law, who lives only a few miles away, has lots of goldfinches in her garden - but they also ignored the niger seed that I gave to her.

[psychocat17]

Since I changed the seed the Goldfinches have returned. I have also noticed that they prefer the Sunflowers all over the garden and they go there first. This is the first year I've seen the babies. The parents seem to be showing them the ropes on the Sunflowers. Haven't seen the babies on the feeder yet. (I use a plastic thistle feeder).

[Screech]

Our thistle sock gets hourly visits from the goldfinches even with sunflower seeds available.
I hung one of those plastic protectors over the sock to keep the rain off, works great so far.

[orangie30]

Here's a new situation to share. We're still getting very heavy activity at our thistlesock feeders, but it seems to be all females. Haven't seen a brilliant yellow/black in about a week. Anyone have any thoughts on why that would be happening? Thanks...Dave

[logos]

Hi Dave,

The reason you're not seeing any black and yellow males now is that they are all in winter plumage, males look pretty much like females in winter plumage except that they still have some yellow on the shoulder (lesser coverts). They moult back into breeding plumage in late winter.

Spud

[Pops_uk]

Hi Elizabeth, we’re almost neighbors, (I live in Fleet) since adding Niger seed to the menu, our occasional visit from a pair of Goldfinch last year has now increased to a lovely charm of thirty plus, currently seeing off a Kg of Niger and three Kg’s of Sunflower hearts a week

[orangie30]

Hi Spud...

Thanks for clearing that up for me. A friend had told me that was the case, but it was so abrupt, I wanted to check it out.

I'm in Rochester NY. Are we okay to continue feeding the finches through the Winter?

Thanks again...Dave

[Sylvia]

Hi, Dave.

I'm an hour and a half southeast of you near Ithaca.

You should definitely continue with the seed through the winter. The drab Goldfinches will most likely stick around, though they may take off for the south if we have a really cold winter. But you also might attract some "northern" species like Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins. They like the niger seed too.

Are you in a suburban part of Rochester?

Sylvia

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Originally posted by Pops_uk
Hi Elizabeth, we’re almost neighbors, (I live in Fleet) since adding Niger seed to the menu, our occasional visit from a pair of Goldfinch last year has now increased to a lovely charm of thirty plus, currently seeing off a Kg of Niger and three Kg’s of Sunflower hearts a week

Hi Pops - I've only just noticed your post. Although I (obviously) subscribed to this thread, and there have been seven posts since mine, I have received no emails about them.

Is anyone from admin reading this - I have received lots of emails about other threads - why not this one???

Pops - I discovered some info about Fleet Pond some while ago, and have been thinking of nipping down the M3 - is it worth a visit?

[Pops_uk]

Hi Elizabeth and to the group I apologize for going OT
Fleet Pond (180 kinds of birds, (50 of which regularly breed) 26 types of butterfly, 21 dragonflies and 400 wild flowers) it’s a must as your so close, it’s popular with dog walkers so if that’s an issue I’d advise an early morning visit and as always in this day and age car security is paramount and I’d suggest you leave the car completely empty (not even cold/wet weather gear). Check out the brochure on the hart web page (http://www.hart.gov.uk/guide/countryside/gd_flee.htm) it has a handy map (it also ups the bird count to almost 250?)
Regards Glyn

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Hi Glyn - thank you for the information about Fleet Pond. I heard of it some while ago when I was web searching for something or other, and I put the URL in my Favourites, under "Outings". I have just looked at the site you mentioned, and have printed off the attractive brochure, so we'll be visiting soon. Thanks for the warning - might we find our wheels missing when we get back to the car???? (Must work out how to put a smiley face on my messages).

Our car knows its own way down the M3 - our older son went to Southampton university 20 years ago, and has stayed in that area, and our younger son lives on the outskirts of Basingstoke.

Thanks - elizabeth

[Pops_uk]

Hi Elizabeth, you are very welcome
(Must work out how to put a smiley face on my messages).

http://www.birdforum.net/forums/misc.php?s=&action=showsmilies
Regards Glyn

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Originally posted by Pops_uk
Hi Elizabeth, you are very welcome
(Must work out how to put a smiley face on my messages).

http://www.birdforum.net/forums/misc.php?s=&action=showsmilies
Regards Glyn

Thanks Glyn - :flowers: - :clap: - :t:

[paclett]

KC etal

How about a photo of these sock things I have not come across these in the UK

paclett

[joser]

No I have never heard of the sock thing either. I put a plastic niger seed feeder out last year and had no goldfinches although I had seen them before in my garden. This year I still had the niger out but put out loads of feeders with sunflower hearts in and suddenly in the last few weeks ive had a couple of goldfinches in the garden feeding on the sunflower hearts. Obviously very picky birds!!!

[GR Triever]

Originally posted by paclett
KC etal

How about a photo of these sock things I have not come across these in the UK

paclett


Here's one, hanging under a tree in the front yard. Excuse the poor quality.

GR

[GR Triever]

Originally posted by paclett
KC etal

How about a photo of these sock things I have not come across these in the UK

paclett


Here's one, hanging under a tree in the front yard. Excuse the poor quality.

GR

[Lawrie Hodges]

I am glad someone asked. I hadn't the courage. Everyone else seemed to know what was being talked about.
Thanks for the pictures.

[NCLady]

The first year I put up a thistle sock I got no takers. I did it again the second year and got dozens of goldfinches. I'm now waiting for their return from up north. Here is a picture of the thistle sock

[paclett]

Thankyou all for the pictures I now know how and what, but as yet not seen as a feeding method here in the uk.
So will have to make one! I am sure the material is avaiable here..

thanks
paclett

[Elizabeth Bigg]

I have looked through 4 different catalogues, but we don't seem to have socks like this in the UK. I have had no success with niger seed so far, but I read in one of the catalogues that it is important to have a proper niger seed feeder, so perhaps this is why I had no luck - I just put it in a little dish on the bird table.

[orangie30]

Wal-Mart here in the US carries the socks. I know that they do ship internationally, but these are probably a seasonal item. Try this link:
http://www.walmart.com/
Good luck...Dave

[IanF]

Elizabeth,

The Goldinches must have different taste at this end of the UK. We have had the metal/plastic Droll Yankee Niger feeder for a few years now and it has been used from day one,some days we have the Goldies queueing up to use it! We also planted a Teasel plant a year ago it is now 5' high and it is also getting used as I write this.

I am quite tempted to get hold of one of the "feeder socks" just to see what our Goldies make of it.

[helenol]

My garden is full of golfinches at the moment. They are taking over the place. I feed them on a hi-energy no mess seed which they love.