In my last thread about goldfinches here I was complaining about the distinct lack of them. Now I get so many that I simply can't fill the sunflower heart feeders fast enough. Yesterday, I counted seven on the feeders and more in the trees waiting to take their turn.
My problem however is that after watching these little blighters closely for a few days, I've noticed that they are very wasteful - often throwing 3 to 4 perfectly good seeds to one side before actually grinding on one. I know that they usually split the seed when they chew (is chew the right word?) and theres waste as a result of that, but they are literally throwing a lot of seeds to one side before they get one they want to bite on.
The Wood Pigeons usually come and hoover them up, but I think even they are sick of soggy sunflower hearts by now. I'm also worried that too much waste around on the ground will attract vermin and I don't think my Neighbours would appreciate seeing the larger furry mammals running around the garden.
Does anyone have any tips?
I have thought about grinding the Sunflower hearts up a bit in a chopper\blender as I think its the larger ones that are getting thrown to the side. Anyone had to do this?
I love having the Goldies in the garden but the mess and waste is bugging me a bit.
By the way, got the first baby Goldies in the garden yesterday and today. I did get some photos too :) I'll post some once I've cropped them as they are very small in the frame.
Thanks for any responses people.
John
I just started a Flickr feed recently (Although I've had an account since 2011) Please take a look and tell me what you think.
michaelmyers2055@gmail.com said:Hi having just seen your post about goldfinches.l am having the exact same problems.it took me years to attract the goldfinches to my feeders.now they visit every day without fail.l did attach small plastic plant trays to the bottom of the feeders also for the the seeds which was discarded.l soon noticed that when bullfinches we're coming to my feeders . they always went to the feeders with the trays on the bottom.feeding on the left over seeds and not from the feeding ports.
First and probably most importantly, you might want to consider changing your user name from your email, which will be in full public view, not just here but on the web globally, which could leave you open to unwanted attention!
As for messy goldfinches, many birds are messy, they're selecting what they want to eat and anything else in the way is discarded, and then become food for ground feeding birds (and mammals/rodents) like pigeons, blackbirds and many others.
As for bullfinches visiting the feeders, I'd be more than pleased to welcome them.
Finally, are you aware this thread was last replied to eighteen months ago, and on that note, I see you're a new visitor to the forum, so a warm welcome from the West Midlands.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler