Goldfinch Wave is Over, Perhaps

For most of the winter, I "enjoyed" a torrent of American Goldfinches, and our sunflower seed bill went up sharply. Suddenly, it's over. Seed consumption is down by half. And I don't see Goldfinches anywhere. Looks like the little devils grew impatient with me, for we left town with no instructions to top off feeders. All it took was three days away, and feeder seed levels down to near-bottom in every tube, for the famously finicky goldfinches to pick a new cafe. Or so it appears. For all I know they had every intention of moving on and my vacation was a coincidence. And maybe they'll return tomorrow, just to spite my prediction. Whatever. What I am sure of is that I'm not missing them right now. I was blown away by how many of these characters mobbed the feeders and how much they can put away. Sure, they're cute in small doses. Not in the form of a swarm. So the little locusts are elsewhere, and I and my wallet are having a little rest. Ahhhhhhh.