Where are all my Goldfinch friends?

I haven't seen a male Goldfinch in weeks! There is one lone female that hangs around day in and day out but what's the deal with all the others? Does anyone else have GF's in my area?

Hi Mrs. -

I, too, feel there are fewer goldfinches in my area this year. I wonder if others notice a drop in population. Is it possible you are using old niger seed? Once I purchased fresh seed, I've had a couple more finches.

In eastern NC, American Goldfinch is primarily only a winter visitor - they have flown north to breed, and will be back next winter.

Resin

Hi Resin, I'm curious where you found that information. National Geographic Guide and the Cornell site both say their year round residents in all of NC.

Well, here in Upstate SC, I can vouch that they're here all year. I had recent (human) visitors, and one asked me about the tree with the yellow flowers. I had no idea what that might be, so we went to look. We apparently startled the flowers (on a crape myrtle) and they flew away......:)

My Stokes and National Audubon also say their year round residents.

The map in Sibley shows them as resident in western NC, but only wintering in eastern NC

Ditto for the map in the 3rd edition of the National Geographic, though the older 2nd edition shows them resident throughout NC.

Resin

Okay I found my 4th edition of National Geographic and it does show them as being a winter resident in eastern areas of NC.

Well, wherever they winter, I'm glad they spring, summer and fall in Western New York! They sure improve the quality of my life with their cheery little sounds, and colorful flower-like presence in my apple tree!

Funny thing, I put a large fuschia plant next to my finch feeder (to attract some hummers mostly) and low and behold, I've had a couple of males visit my feeder again. Could there be a correlation I wonder? I don't have NEARLY as many as I did several weeks ago, but it is still nice to see the occasional few.

I still don't know why they left so suddenly though.

Maybe the fact that they feel more protected with the cover nearby. Glad you have them!