Finches won't come to my backyard

[mary]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum....and to bird watching in general! I've been trying to attract finches to my backyard, but haven't had any luck yet.

I put up a finch feeder (from Wild Birds Unlimited) with Nyger thistle seeds about 20ft away from my other feeders. I haven't seen a bird near that feeder yet.

I do have a lot of other birds at my other feeders--I'm wondering if the finches are being scared away by the activity.

So is there anything I can do? Or, is anyone else not seeing many finches?

Thanks so much.

[Vern]

Hi, Mary

In my backyard I don't start getting Gold/Purple Finches in any numbers until sometime in Dec. Others may get them a little earlier. I usually see them in the area earlier than they come to my feeders They are pretty feisty and normal other bird activity doesn't faze them and would probably do more to attract them.

A lot of birders feed the Nyjer. I went to straight Black Oil Sunflower seeds for the feeder birds and the Finches cover them up when they do start visiting.

[mary]

Thanks so much for letting me know that Vern. I really appreciate the information--I can't wait 'till I see them.

I really am a newbie--I know nothing about nothing yet. I went to a local bird store last week and was told that I needed to place the finch feeder at least 10 ft away from other feeders. I'm glad to know activity will attract them.

This birding stuff is addictive. :)

[Vern]

I have had a small wave of Finches in to the feeders this morning...probably about a dozen.

The Nyger feeders placed away from the other feeders may be good for the other birds :) The Finches are rather possessive. The Cardinals don't give way to them usually though.

[mary]

Wow, that's great. I think I saw one too this morning. I saw a bird with a speckled pink breast. It looked like a sparrow. I couldn't get my binoculars out fast enough. I just noticed the pink!! It didn't come to the thistle feeder though. Hope to figure it out tomorrow. :)

[jeanbean]

Mary, like Vern, at our house we don't usually see the American Goldfinches until later in December, although they are in the area now, out there eating wild bird food. :) I saw a pair two weeks ago whilst on a hike.

For the House Fnches (the ones with the rosey markings), ours seem to prefer the safflower seeds over the nyjer seed. We had bunches all summer long, but as usual, the seem to disappear in the late fall. I speculate it's because food gets plentiful out in the wild in autumn.

When we first started putting up feeders, it would sometimes take months for the birds to find them in any number. But they will come, and if they like your restaurant, they'll bring their chums!

Best of luck,
Jean Suplick

[JimTX]

Gold finches usually show up in mid December around here. I use the Nyger socks to start with and then buy it in bulk and refill. I have seen it covered up in the past with the GF and the sunflower seed feed covered with the house finches ... they are about 4-5' apart.

When they are hungry ... they don't care about distance and fights seem to be common .. reminds me of the hummers.

Oh .. and I use the yellow ribbons hanging on the feeder lines ... don't know if it really helps ... but I put them up one year when I had none and they showed up that day.

[mary]

Hi all,

I haven't had any finches come to my backyard. I wonder what I'm doing wrong. I feel so unloved. :(

[mary]

I got finches!! Woohoo! Finally.