[tn-bird] Re: bevy of goldfinch
- From: James Brooks <comeback@xxxxxxxx>
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2002 07:55:21 -0400
By any chance are you feeding thistle seed?
No matter. American Goldfinches are strange birds in their nesting
behavior. For one thing, they tend to form feeding flocks before the
nesting season, rather than afterwards. This is your reward for feeding
them all that sunflower seed all winter when they are plain and drab.
Actually their mating and nesting behavior appears to be closely related
to thistle bloom. They line their nests with thistle down and thistle
seed is an important food source during the nesting season. Something to
think about when your local county highway department declares war
against the Canadian thistle (my personal feeling is that highway
departments are generally at war with nature, including people).
So look for your goldfinches to be going to the nest sometime between
early July and late September. They've got to be the latest nesting
resident bird.
Of course, the fact that they form feeding flocks during the winter
months is well documented by sunflower seed sales.
James Brooks
Jonesborough, TN
jreese5@xxxxxxx wrote:
>
>Thanks James Brooks for your "turkey talk" and also for your erudition on
>the eating and migrating habits of Parasitic Jaegers.
>
>Another bird curiousity item...no less than nine male goldfinches in full
>bright yellow plumage are on my feeder just beyond my window. Would the
>young have such bright colors so soon? ...or is this a "bachelor pod"
>cruising for goldfinch chicks and knocking back a few sunflowers?
>Seriously, surely it's too soon for them to be forming flocks......
>
>
>
>Carol Reese
>Ornamental Horticulture Specialist -Western District
>University of Tennessee Extension Service
>605 Airways Blvd.
>Jackson TN 38301
>901 425 4721 email jcreese@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
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=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================
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with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
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Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
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TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx (423) 764-3958
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