We have a lot of Lesser Goldfinches out here in East Portland, 3 miles
north of Powell Butte. In December they were in the company of American
Goldfinches, but the latter have flitted away. We have 2 nyger feeders,
and there's nearly always a Lesser or 3 at one or both.
Anne D.
Msg: #14 in digestPOST: Send your post to obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
From: Jeff Gilligan<jeffgilligan10@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2016 14:26:07 -0800
Subject: [obol] The missing American Goldfinches and frosted AM. Robins
Having just completed a dog walk in my Portland neighborhood (Laurelhurst) I
again noted the absence of American Goldfinches , and the great reduction in
numbers of Lesser Goldfinches from recent years. For many years there have
been hundreds of American Goldfinches in the neighborhood in winter - primarily
eating the seeds of Sweet Gum trees, but also the seeds of various birches. I
haven't seen or heard a single American Goldfinch in the neighborhood this
winter. Maybe last summer's drought caused the trees to skip a year of seed
production.
A flock of American Robins that I saw on the walk included many that were very pale and
"frosted" appearing. I assume that they are from somewhere to the far north.
A flock of about 20 Cedar Waxwings was a pleasant sight.
Jeff Gilligan (Northeast Portland)
