Nyger A Disappointment This Year

Most of the food choices we have offered over the years have been quite successful. Some, like suet nuggets or peanut hearts, very disappointing. I am beginning to group nyger into the second group. When I first put this product out, it was a smash hit. Goldfinches gave it their full attention. But starting this past fall, the nyger offerings have been a serious flop. At first I thought this was a function of too-dry seed. But even successive offerings of fresh seed were ignored by the Goldfinches we had. Yesterday, with some heaviness of heart, I pitched my remaining stock into the composter. It may be that nyger is out of fashion, bird-wise, in 2009. I'll come back to it again, perhaps this coming winter, and see if we can make a go of it. Just goes to show that one needs to constantly monitor what the birds eat or don't and be responsive to changes.