Each year at this time we get a special chuckle out of our bird friends. We
use a thistle feeder that requires the ability to hang upside-down to get at
the feeding holes, thereby eliminating all but Siskins and Goldfinches. (It
helps to mitigate the high cost of thistle!) Throughout the year we smile
when we see House Finches perched on the feeder watching the successful
Siskins and Goldfinches. I swear they have a quizical look wondering "How do
you do that?" They don't even try.

This time of year the young Goldfinches appear at the feeder. First they
perch begging for food. Then, watching the adults, they try to get the
"hang" of hanging upside-down. They try, but invariably fall off and have to
fly to a nearby tree to start over. Not only is this a learned behavior, but
one that apparently requires a good deal of practice before they get it
right.

Grant Hendrickson
Redmond, WA
granth1 at mindspring.com