tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306285038402649171.post3144900867880492196..comments2024-03-21T14:08:47.185-05:00Comments on It's Not Work, It's Gardening!: Finches on a diet?Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13393082652312828458noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306285038402649171.post-29052970254859963352013-04-03T16:01:10.507-05:002013-04-03T16:01:10.507-05:00I think you need a new feeder. I find that the fe...I think you need a new feeder. I find that the feeders get dirty. I have to clean mine 2 times a year and then my birds stay. When the feeder gets dirty my finches stop eating.<br />https://backyardfeatheredfriends.com Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08368679508058621390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306285038402649171.post-12778977504941260002013-01-19T08:38:46.184-06:002013-01-19T08:38:46.184-06:00I should've mentioned that despite my feeder b...I should've mentioned that despite my feeder being quite open itself I do have natural woodland that comes almost all the way up to my deck. I've seen woodpeckers, doves, finches, chickadees, titmice, and a gnatcatcher in just the last couple of minutes. They'll empty my tube in about 3 days. Alan, have you tried a spot closer to the natural strip that borders your property?<br /><br />Helene, I just got my dad a feeder for Christmas and it's full of seed ... not a bird on it yet. I guess they have to know the food source before winter sets in.<br /><br />Best, -jeremyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306285038402649171.post-53623915404856240532013-01-18T13:34:54.717-06:002013-01-18T13:34:54.717-06:00Jason: Wild Birds Unlimited is where I bought most...Jason: Wild Birds Unlimited is where I bought most of these feeders. I haven't asked for advice there though. :)Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13393082652312828458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306285038402649171.post-83420059853812036042013-01-18T10:14:42.015-06:002013-01-18T10:14:42.015-06:00I have had a somewhat similar experience with gold...I have had a somewhat similar experience with goldfinches. I think the answer is that the population just normally waxes and wanes. Also, they will focus on certain sources of food at certain times, then switch. We had a scarcity of finches for a long time, then they returned in numbers. You might want to see if there is a Wild Birds Unlimited store near you, they might offer some advice - they are real bird people, so to speak.Jasonhttp://gardeninacity.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306285038402649171.post-72648895162155022392013-01-18T07:31:23.031-06:002013-01-18T07:31:23.031-06:00Thanks for all of the comments! It seems like ther...Thanks for all of the comments! It seems like there's no one solution.<br /><br />Jennifer: mesh bags and screen feeders are some of the more popular feeder designs for finches, and there are countless photos of finches using these types of feeders, plus I've seen finches eat from them before. Maybe finch feeder preference is regional? That's why I've tried so many types. The feeder can't be the problem -- it must be something else...<br /><br />Kathy G: it's good to know I'm not alone, but I still want to crack this problem!<br /><br />Cat: I know the finches love the stream, but I wonder if shifting rocks made it less attractive to them in the last couple of years? Hopefully the stream rebuild (soon?) will get them visiting again.Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13393082652312828458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306285038402649171.post-41576438922224753442013-01-18T04:26:14.182-06:002013-01-18T04:26:14.182-06:00I loved your story - my feeder was always plundere...I loved your story - my feeder was always plundered by rouge starlings and cape weavers with the aggressive red eyes! They just vandalised my feeder and within minutes all the seeds were gone or thrown out! The noise was the worst, so I went back to scattering seeds in the garden. So much more pleasant and everyone gets to share.Barbiehttp://www.thegardeningblog.co.zanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306285038402649171.post-26813351619714429812013-01-17T19:11:42.639-06:002013-01-17T19:11:42.639-06:00The finches visiting my garden are not using a scr...The finches visiting my garden are not using a screen feeder. The feeder they prefer has perches where they can rest. There are also several understory trees they like to sit in on their way to the feeder. The Texas Persimmon is their favorite. Also, I noticed the most improvement of finch traffic when I added a water source. The red fountain that was posted on my blog last week is their preferred spot for drinking. They can sit on the edge. It's like a little finch party out there. Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03872899189875117518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306285038402649171.post-47702536491408935082013-01-17T18:41:51.402-06:002013-01-17T18:41:51.402-06:00As you may remember, I live not too far from you. ...As you may remember, I live not too far from you. The manager of the garden shop where I buy my seed told me the finches have abandoned the feeders in her yard and she's heard from others who have reported the same thing. I'm looking forward to checking back on this post to see if you get any suggestions.Kathy Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10593849691667606991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306285038402649171.post-89261725753892500952013-01-17T18:03:47.592-06:002013-01-17T18:03:47.592-06:00I have just bought my very first bird feeder, hopi...I have just bought my very first bird feeder, hoping to attract some birds in my garden. After more than 2 weeks no seeds have been eaten so I have also made a post asking my readers for help. Maybe we should link up!HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306285038402649171.post-12496157257399205612013-01-17T18:01:23.180-06:002013-01-17T18:01:23.180-06:00I don't have much to offer about getting the f...I don't have much to offer about getting the finches to come back to your yard, but when they do they're not going to use the mesh feeder. Finches like to sit on a perch or a tray when eating at a feeder; they aren't very good at clinging to the sides of things. I've seen them try, but they always go back to the feeders with perches. The mesh type feeder is better for woodpeckers and nuthatches and such.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08711049414962431559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306285038402649171.post-62313235304717849272013-01-17T09:50:00.986-06:002013-01-17T09:50:00.986-06:00I have the exact same situation. I have a mesh fi...I have the exact same situation. I have a mesh finch feeder next to some shrubs; however, I rarely see any finches feeding from it. I periodically change the seed hoping that will help. Nothing. I miss seeing the gold finches. I sometimes see a few in the garden. Could it be that their numbers are down?Katie @ Wildwood Creekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04969389883516352336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306285038402649171.post-72828451523316007752013-01-17T08:45:32.691-06:002013-01-17T08:45:32.691-06:00I have both house finches and goldfinches on my Dr...I have both house finches and goldfinches on my Droll Yankee tube feeder filled with nothing but black oil sunflower seed. The feeder hangs from a hook that extends from deck railing back over the deck ... not much cover at all. I'm in the SE though.<br />Good Luck, -jeremyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7306285038402649171.post-64695740245290451712013-01-17T08:33:23.437-06:002013-01-17T08:33:23.437-06:00Yup... our finches too love the cover of branches,...Yup... our finches too love the cover of branches, bushes, leaves, etc. Even an interior corner of the house where they can feel protected from the back while they keep a lookout to the front helps. We have a thick hedge that attracts dozens and dozens of finches daily, but as soon as we trim it in the spring they disappear until the hedge starts to fill in again. <br /><br />The only thing in our neighborhood that preys on finches is cats, but that must be enough to keep them on their toes!Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05185255434783858464noreply@blogger.com