2nd Try With Bird feeder

[Nyboy]

Years ago I put up a cheap bird feeder, filled with cheap seed. First couple of weeks all was well, I enjoyed watching the birds. Then starlings showed up, at first only a few, but there numbers quickly grew. They chased away the other birds and made a big mess. I threw feeder away and chalked it up as bad idea. I had to stop in a pet shop last night, all there bird feeders where 50% off. I got a finch feeder hoping for goldfinches, is thistle the best seed to use?

 

[ninnymary]

I never thought of feeding Thistlebloom to the birds. But what do I know.

Mary

 

[Nyboy]

 

[thistlebloom]

Hey!
Marys causing trouble again!! If she keeps it up I'm telling on her!

To answer NYboys question, yes goldfinches love niger (aka thistle) seed.
Another good seed that attracts a wide variety of birds is black oil sunflower.

If you just want finches *you can buy thistle socks. Since they have to cling to the sock to pull the seed out it won't be bothered by other bird varieties.

*This time of year I prefer a nice wool blend. Any color that goes with jeans will work.

 

[ninnymary]

Thistle, I couldn't resist. I hope I don't get hit with a ruler on my hand.

Mary

 

[catjac1975]

Years ago I put up a cheap bird feeder, filled with cheap seed. First couple of weeks all was well, I enjoyed watching the birds. Then starlings showed up, at first only a few, but there numbers quickly grew. They chased away the other birds and made a big mess. I threw feeder away and chalked it up as bad idea. I had to stop in a pet shop last night, all there bird feeders where 50% off. I got a finch feeder hoping for goldfinches, is thistle the best seed to use?

They like thistle and they eat my standing sunflower seeds. Don't they fly south for the winter?

 

[seedcorn]

They like thistle and they eat my standing sunflower seeds. Don't they fly south for the winter?

Nope. Stay north. Wish starlings would go somewhere. Finches change colors and look like sparrows.

 

[so lucky]

Sometimes you can see a tiny bit of yellow still on their backs or wings, but mostly they are pretty dull. BUT if you feed them all winter, you will be rewarded by seeing them color up around the first of May.

 

[Nyboy]

I almost bought a bag of dark oil sunflower seeds, but the mesh on feeder looked to small for seeds to fit though. The thistle seed is much smaller.

 

[Carol Dee]

If you have a Finch feeder, it most likely is meant for Thistle (Niger) seed only. You will need something else for the black oil seed. ALL birds like the sunflower seeds! I think I mostly feeding, sparrows and starlings. But enough finch, cardinal, junco , chickadee, etc... show up to keep the feed coming. then I put out suet feeder and get lots of woodpeckers and nuthatches.