I took a whole bunch of pics the last day or two so thought I would just put them on a thread instead of the daily pics. Please feel free to add yours too! Well shoot, I spelled Fiesta wrong!!
It starts with one little bird...
Well
This message was edited Apr 26, 2008 7:44 PM
you see that pretty yellow flash before your eyes. They look so sweet...
before you know it there are a couple more of them stopping by..
and that is okay with you. Nothing says spring is on the way like these little birds changing from their drab winter colors, into their bright summer plumage!
However, it doesn't take long for you to realize that birds are downright mean sometimes!!
You quickly realize that next week you need to pick up another finch feeder or thistle sock!
Because in a few weeks this litltle thing just ain't gonna cut it!
INCOMING!
Were you invited here?
This message was edited Apr 26, 2008 6:09 PM
Happy little guys (and gals)!
Thanks for sharing.
Whoa 'er up!
That's gonna leave a mark!
Very nice pics nanny! Goldfinch are a real joy!
have a few more...
...
Wow, great pictures! I love the goldfinches. I used to get them in my urban backyard, but now I have moved into a more rural setting and I am not seeing any. I think they stay in Iowa all year long, so I'm not sure where they are. I'll have to keep an eye out for them. Lucky you to have so many to watch!
Claire
one reason I love to photograph all the finches...it is so easy to get flight shots!
Thanks Claire! Do you have a thistle feeder of some type out? They also love sunflower chips!
I swear that the cheap thistle socks have been the best! They did not like the "better" upside down feeder, though enjoyed the cheap one that the squirrels were after.
I have a nyjer seed feeder with the small holes, which they loved at my other house, because the holes are under the perches, so they hang upside-down to eat the seed, and most other birds can't do that. But, since I only moved in February, and I put the feeder out in March, maybe it will take a while for them to find it, since there was no feeder for them in that spot before. There are lots of other birds visiting, but not for that feeder. Maybe you can tell your goldfinches to tell Iowa goldfinches to head to my new feeder location! LOL
Oh! Well there goes my theory! They did like my upside down feeder at my other house though! Maybe I should buy a sock feeder and then once they find it, they'll try my other feeder?
I should add that it DID take me a long time to get my finches to a feeder. I grow a row of sunflowers at the back of the fence for them so I have them in August, but finally this year they seem to have stayed.
Well you know, I wonder if they just prefer the sock, or the all thistle diet? I suppose I'll never know unless i do some sort of trial… LOL.
You know, I also wonder if it's related to coniferous trees. This may be a crazy theory. At my other house I had a very thick Colorado blue spruce. Now, I have all hardwoods, and nothing in leaf yet (well, barely). I think they liked the cover of the spruce. Maybe they will come when there is more leaf cover.
Always worth a try! Put a sock up, heck, it's only a few bucks and the housefinches like it too.
I'll look for one next time I'm at an appropriate shopping spot. I think Home Depot has them and I need to go there soon. I'll try hanging one in a different spot and see what happens. They are the state bird of Iowa after all!
They got be there some where then! LOL
I am going to pick up a sock to put up too. I know that in a few weeks that finch feeder will not be enough!
Got mine at farm and fleet. a three pack even.
These are all great pictures. I love goldfinches and am always sorry to see them leave in the spring. I rarely get to see them that yellow. Here's one I did get a couple of years ago.
Very nice!
Wow, he was just glowing for you, mrw31.
I thought I'd add some more to the party. Had several visitors today.
Three pix total…
#2
#3
All of these are because I have a sock hanging probably 10 feet from my office window.
Very nice Marna!!
Thanks. Looks like they've all got their color all in place now!
Bright and beautiful!
I think the title of this thread - FEISTA - is perfect for the goldfinches - they are waaaaay feisty - gotta love 'em. Ours are about 3/4 done with the winter molt & starting to look great......where do they nest, by the way....I've never been able to locate a goldfinch nest (or else I didn't know what I was looking at....LOL).
From Cornell:
Nest an open cup of rootlets and plant fibers, lined with plant down. Placed in small shrub and lashed to branches with spider silk.
Huh???
