We too have an absence of goldfinches this yr! The squirrels go for the niger seed & am now trying sunflower hearts on their own in a separate caged feeder.
What does annoy me is the tits & co that can hang easily from feeders divivng on the ground feeders tray as soon as it is refilled! J.
When I was out riding recently there was whole flock ,I think,goldfinches ,chasing each other from tree to tree,the trees now felled they where pine.I have never seen so many chattering their song as they went.may be they like the pine cones.
I am not sure if its goldfinches (pale brown with yellow stripes on lower parts of wings, but I have had to kill two lately with that snotty nose desease, dont know what its called but I am sure it must be spreading. We do keep the feeders clean.
Thinking about it, they are not goldfinches, anyone know what they are?
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Hi budlia63, One reason for birds singing at night is from light pollution, if you live where there are lots of streetlamps which are on all night. The effect gets worse in big towns when it is cloudy as the clouds reflect the light making it seem just like a dull day every night. I live near a main road with huge lamps and some birds (particularly Robins) sing all night. Unfortunately, it's not good for them:
Another theory is that it's noise pollution and in areas where it is very noisy during the day (again, probably near busy roads), they prefer to sing at night as they can't compete with man-made noise during the day:
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Caz you are not alone!
We too have an absence of goldfinches this yr! The squirrels go for the niger seed
& am now trying sunflower hearts on their own in a separate caged feeder.
What does annoy me is the tits & co that can hang easily from feeders divivng on the ground feeders tray as soon as it is refilled! J.
A classic line from radio 4 and Gardeners QT. as heard by Mary Whitehouse.........
'tits, like coconuts........................................................................ ......and
sparrows like breadcrumbs.
When I was out riding recently there was whole flock ,I think,goldfinches ,chasing each other from tree to tree,the trees now felled they where pine.I have never seen so many chattering their song as they went.may be they like the pine cones.
That reminds me - nearly time for GQT - thanks Peat
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I am not sure if its goldfinches (pale brown with yellow stripes on lower parts of wings, but I have had to kill two lately with that snotty nose desease, dont know what its called but I am sure it must be spreading. We do keep the feeders clean.
Thinking about it, they are not goldfinches, anyone know what they are?
Siskins maybe? J.
Female greenfinch?
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/greenfinch/index.aspx
click the arrow to find the female illustration.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Anybody know why birds are chirping at midnight I've never heard this in winter?
Hi budlia63, One reason for birds singing at night is from light pollution, if you live where there are lots of streetlamps which are on all night. The effect gets worse in big towns when it is cloudy as the clouds reflect the light making it seem just like a dull day every night. I live near a main road with huge lamps and some birds (particularly Robins) sing all night. Unfortunately, it's not good for them:
http://www.britastro.org/dark-skies/wildlife.html
Another theory is that it's noise pollution and in areas where it is very noisy during the day (again, probably near busy roads), they prefer to sing at night as they can't compete with man-made noise during the day:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6591649.stm
Either way, it seems we humans are to blame.
Finches are the messiest eaters, they seem to chew with their mouths open and stuff ends up everywhere.