I have just discovered that there has already been a lot of Bullfinch chat, however I cannot see the answer to my question- do bullfinches mate for life? I am lucky enough to have a pair coming regularly to my feeder (I live five miles from the centre of Birmingham) They are still coming together every day. I have not seen any juveniles though.
isn't wild wonderful
Hi Min
That's a good question - to which I honestly don't know the answer as I've not been lucky enough to see any bullfinches where I live. I am sure someone will know though, and I will be interested to learn as well.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Hi Min - I understand that Bullfinches do mate for life and do not move far from the area in which they were born so will become very localised. Even through the winter you will hear pairs of Bullfinches calling to each other to keep in touch whilst feeding (a single whistle type call) not very good with calls - tone deaf!
Found this old photo on computer this morning of a Bullfinch who had been injured (stunned really) and we kept him in the dining room for a few hours to recover incase the farm cats got him - his mate called from the hedge and when he started flying around the room we opened the window and he flew straight to her and off they went!
lucybob said: Hi Min - I understand that Bullfinches do mate for life and do not move far from the area in which they were born so will become very localised. Even through the winter you will hear pairs of Bullfinches calling to each other to keep in touch whilst feeding (a single whistle type call) not very good with calls - tone deaf!
Hi Lucy
Many thanks for that info, My chaffinch pairing seems to remain a constant factor but of course that didn't mean it would necessarily apply to other finches.
lucybob said: Found this old photo on computer this morning of a Bullfinch who had been injured (stunned really) and we kept him in the dining room for a few hours to recover incase the farm cats got him - his mate called from the hedge and when he started flying around the room we opened the window and he flew straight to her and off they went!
Thanks Lucybob, and everyone else who replied. What a lovely story and picture--I love a happy ending
min said: What a lovely story and picture--I love a happy ending
What a lovely story and picture--I love a happy ending
I wholeheartedly second that!!!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
My photos on Flickr
Your picture has come up now - it hadn't when I posted last. Not sure what's going on at the moment as MarJus' scanned article in another thread wouldn't display for me until about half an hour later.
As everyone has said - a smashing photo. It's always a relief when a rescue attempt is successful.
Hi everyone - the photo is still not coming up for me! I put it down to being a very early digital photo on my very first camera anyway am glad everyone else has seen it!
Hi Lucy - it's disappeared again for me now as well but I definitely saw it earlier!
Lucy, sorry to say I can't see your picture either
We also have a pair of bullfinch. I like to think it is always the same pair..