Soreheads

The seed feeders have been empty for most of a week (in an effort to discourage grackles) and it may be that my imagination is running away with me.  Case in point: the House Finches, or at least one particular male, is making more noise than usual.  The bird, when I observe, flies about the front of the house making an astonishing flapping sound.  And then it will stop, seemingly looking at me, and chirping a bit.  It's almost as if the bird is demanding that I refill.  Of course, this one is not necessarily an obnoxious sorehead.  But it is an interesting behavior I have not seen and the brain tries to explain it.  But if the bird is protesting, it won't work!  I'm not done with my purge.  So wait a few more days, finch!

More Finch Gluttony

Yesterday I commented on the gluttonous American Goldfinches, but we can't gloss over the fact that those cute little House Finches are themselves powerful forces of food intake.  And indeed, these piggies are having a banner year.  Already one group has introduced its young to the wonders of the north side tube feeders and by my reckoning a pileup of (I estimate) eight birds is sucking down just over a pound of sunflower seed a day.  You can only imagine what the goldfinches add to the party!  This is one species for which I pray all my neighbors help feed.  I'm a little more interested in other birds.  But we are stuck with the bloody things.  Looks like another full summer of finch gluttony...

House Finches Lured By Casual Birdfeeders

I made a big effort to fill feeders Friday night, one of our coldest days of the past five years, in expectation that the birds would line up to stay warm the next morning.  Except that, nothing happened.  The feeders hardly dropped in seed level.  All day.  And the prime reason for that was the utter absence of piggy little House Finches (or any of their goldfinch, Chickadee and Titmouse allies).  All gone.  So what took place? why was I ignored this time?  My beloved postulated that on days such as that casual bird feeders swing into action and spread some seed, perhaps that lousy millet-and-white-striped-sunflower garbage mix, on a deck or on the ground, and that the birds keyed in on this new bounty.  As to why my more reliable supply gets the short shrift in favor of the new "stuff", I can't comment.  But it may make sense.  Perhaps the change of diet appeals to them.  Well, fine.  See you all when the short time stuff runs out!

Back in Force

Our friends the House Finches, gluttons par excellence, are back.  Apparently the new smash hit seed site somewhere else played out and my feeders are always a good fallback.  So the sunflower seed consumption has gone up and the bird count is at is usual cold season best.  You have to love the finches.  Or you go nuts.  At least they are quite an entertainment: chirping and fighting and being quite social.  And they're not squirrels.  And the goldfinches aren't gorging with them.  So we'll cross our fingers and hope for the best.

Missing Finches

And just like that: the finches vanished.  My favorite little seed eaters with prodigious appetites effectively disappeared from the scene over a week ago.  There are some birds that are present now and then, but the seed tubes have hardly emptied in many days.  So what's going on?  One distinct possibility is that seedy natives are being exploited.  One can't blame any bird for seeking a little change of diet so long as the food is easily accessible.  I have no clear idea where these plants are but weedy and meadowy patches are reasonably common in the immediate area, especially near our pond.  Another is that something discouraged the birds, perhaps in the line of predators.  And they have therefore found other feeders that seem safer.  This is not one I am sweating. Finches eat a lot and any vacation from that onslaught is rather welcomed here.  And the finches always return.  Always. 

House Finch Update

It does not take a long time to feed birds in the Piedmont before realizing that the predominant bird at our seed feeders is what I affectionately call the "Hollywood Finch": House Finch, that is.  And these jokers stick to feeders like glue.  Even when I've shut them down for weeks at a time, the Hollywoods show up within an hour.  Despite the gluttony they provide a distinct calming feeling for me.  I can take my usual "bird spot" and watch their doings - with chirpings and squabbles - for a long time.  This summer has been no exception.  There are plenty of finches.  Hungry, amusing, and likely to be around for awhile.  Thank heaven for small blessings!

It's good work if you can get it

Have the House Finches been eating well?  why yes! thanks for asking!  My heavens, it must be a hard job draining those sunflower and safflower seed feeders.  But the finches are nothing if persistent and work at that assignment from sunrise to sunset.  They do the job well.  They can clean out three pounds' of seed in two or three days.  Not bad for little whisps of feathers.  Tough work, but it is good work if you can get it.  And, as Gershwin noted, you can get if you try.  Gee finches, thanks so much for your efforts.  (sigh)

That Did Not Take Long

For nearly a month, the feeders were empty.  I stopped refilling as the Great Backyard Bird Count ended in an effort to discourage a mob of pesky Red Winged Blackbirds (or is that term "cloud"?)  The tactic worked.  Eventually there were no signs or sounds of RWBs, so I experimented with reloading every sunflower tube (and other feeders).  One expected the birds to return in a few days.  Not quite.  It was a few hours.  It was no time at all before American Goldfinches, mostly, descended and began draining the tubes.  This is proof that the birds regularly check past successful food sources but can do well without feeder food if the need arises.  The fast past of consumption has been resumed.  Now, do I need to slow down the finches?

Time For an Exorcism

The data from the Great Backyard Bird Count didn't alert me to a problem.  They only demonstrated the problem was worse than I ever imagined.  Put it this way: of 238 birds I counted across the weekend, fully 70% were from just three species: Red Winged Blackbirds, Pine Siskins, and House Finches.  And I already knew that between 1# and 3# of seed were going out the door each day.  It is time for the craziness to end!  And thus, bird count behind me, I shut down the feeders.  Well, actually let them empty.  And empty they will stand for some time between one and three weeks to discourage the pests.  I would describe it even as an exorcism: the blackbirds have become the spawn of Satan in my eyes!  This is a risky strategy: there is the furry gray menace, who may start attacking quarters hitherto left alone.  And I may pick up where I left off if these birds maintain a patrol each day watching for a renewal of the handout.  But it must be done.  I can only guess how long this will take.  Wish me luck!

Feeder #3: Megatube

A couple of years ago I think it was, I picked up this high capacity seed feeder from Duncraft, with an eye to attracting goldfinches.  I reasoned that a full feeder would pique their continued custom.  And, after all, shouldn't two pounds of seed last a lonnnnnnng time?  Of course, the goldfinches ignored it.  The House Finches, on the other hand, did not.  And they quickly demonstrated that on a cold winter day, or any day for that matter, a pound of seed can vanish between dawn and dusk.  This feeder continues to be popular, but it is positioned from a a squirrel-resistant station on the north side of the house, and is reasonably possible to clean.  So it has grown on me as well.  Recommended? I think so.  Just make sure you can fill it conveniently.  And budget extra sunflower seed...

Finches: Better Than Budgies

There are folks who, unfortunately, keep exotic birds caged at home.  I'm not too crazy about the practice, but I understand the appeal.  Birds will lighten up any space and can entertain.  Now, if we remove the cage, and remove the room---and step outdoors, I think I have exactly the same thing.  And the birds are free.  Those darn House Finches practically live on the sunflower seed feeder: morning, noon, afternoon.  They might as well be pets.  I can enjoy their squabbling, cheeping, and feedtime antics every bit as much as the crazy old lady loves her budgies.  And House Finches dont' scream.  They're better than budgies!

More and More Finches

One thing that only got worse since before the Great Computer Malfunction of 2012 was the overload we've had of "Hollywood" House Finches.  They were not at all put off by my efforts at discouragement in June and July and are blowing through sunflower seed like there is no tomorrow.  I've calculated current daily consumption as averaging near two pounds per day.  That is not cool.  It's doubly uncool given how many plants are in seed; the proper food for finches at this time of year.  I'm debating cutting the fools off for a month, except that cardinals and others do get in line.  It will be a hard call... but something does need to be done about all the finches!

Finches: Ha! Try Again!

Readers may recall that I looked at my recent visit to Connecticut as a chance to reduce the finch load here.  And by that, I assumed a few days of empty, untended feeders would annoy the excess of House- and American Goldfinches and give them thoughts of going elsewhere.  This happened in February.  But not now.  Oh no.  Within a day and a half of my return and filling the feeders, the finches were back in force.  And this past week the sunflower seed has rapidly flowed out into the gullets of little stomachs with wings.  Well, go figure.  All I can do now is try and enjoy the Amazing Finch Eatery Show.  And maybe we'll try again in July.

Lawn Order

It is interesting how many birds can be attracted to a suburban lawn space after the usual weekly ritual.  A simple lawn mowing is followed by all manner of birds alert to the stir-up of insects.  This House Finch was observed poking around a flower bed and seemed to be having a good hunt.   I also won the appreciation of some robins and towhees by weeding a future garden area.  I took a rake to the spot and turned up a good bit of soil.  Within minutes of my leaving: birds.  Other species I've seen probing newly cut areas are Chipping Sparrows, Northern Mockingbirds, Mourning Doves, and Common Grackles, and I am sure there are others.  That's lawn order for you!

Finches Are Everywhere

When reviewing the output of my Wingscapes BirdCam, I am always struck by the ubiquitousness of the "Hollywood" House Finch.  These blasted little rascals are found, frequently, on every seed feeder on the place.  And there are currently seven of those.  Some people may complain that squirrels eat all of the seed.  Not here.  The squirrels are poor competition for these stomachs with wings.  I know there are at least a dozen birds who work our property, and given that everywhere I look I see finches, there may be half a dozen more.  Great Gravy!  What these pests don't know is that very soon the seed feeders are going to be shut down for a few days and maybe, as in February when I last had need to stop the seed flow, I'll get some peace.  The finches will move on and bother some other poor soul.  That will be interesting.  Can't wait!

Wonders of Flight

One of the delights of the Wingscapes BirdCam is its ability to capture the marvel of flight in a single instant.  Some days I am fortunate enough to pick up clear photos of flying birds.  And this week I was so blessed--perhaps a dozen or so pictures like this.  Here a male House Finch is coming in for a landing.  I can easily observe the bird's posture: claws ready to grasp the perch; wings in a braking position.  Some of the photos suggest the ins and outs of birds in such a place make the modern airport look hopelessly stodgy.  Now if only I can capture shots of more interesting subjects than finches! 

A Flood of Finches, Again

Back in February I needed to leave town, and left no mechanism for filling sunflower seed tube feeders.  And like magic--a tormenting mob of House Finches and American Goldfinches...vanished.  Oh sure, there were a few around, not enough to cause trouble.  And seed consumption relaxed greatly.  This went on for more weeks than I dreamed possible.  But like all things, that passed.  And the trickle of finches became a flood.  And I am pouring seed into those same feeders.  That I am ahead of the game, and actually enjoy the twittering of "Hollywood" finches -- and a sense that young are being fed -- has prevented me from sitting on my hands and letting the tubes empty out.  But I learned a lesson in February: that only the pesky birds moved to some other victim.  Can't say I won't try again in June...

Cool Down

One of the best outcomes of our unhappy trip up north a week ago was had here, at home.  I left town without any instructions given to a friend to fill feeders.  At the time I thought the feeders might barely hold out.  They didn't.  The waves of House Finches and goldfinches wiped out the sunflower seed reserves.  Perhaps frustrated in a birdy sort of way by my failure to top off the feeders, the hordes moved elsewhere and I realized a cool-down.  Few finches!  Things are somewhat quieter.  We didn't lose all of the other species: just, really, the piggy ones.  Of course they will return.  But in the meantime, we got a respite.  And that is a good thing!

Society of Moochers

You may notice I don't discuss dear carpodacus mexicanus, the House (or as I call it, "Hollywood") Finch much.  To be honest, I am never sure myself one day to the next whether I find them exasperating or endearing.  Much of the time they are to me carpodacus gluttonus, the flying stomach.  And these devils seem to eat anything.  They are on every feeder...sunflower, safflower, peanuts... you name it.  They're cute, I'll give you that.  But they do mooch.  I am not clear they actually eat native foods if they can more easily perch on a feeder and pig out.  But we must treat all of our bird friends alike.  I must hope I find them more delightful to watch in exhange for all that seed.  Chirp on, moochers!