Subject: Thistle feeders
Date: Aug 20 07:24:05 2001
From: Larry Fischer - lfischer at bentonrea.com



Regarding Goldfinch and House Finch:
Grant Hendrickson is fortunate indeed. Our House Finches HAVE mastered
the upside-down thistle feeder and it makes feeding thistle quite expensive
as they prefer it to the oil sunflower that is always available.
Is it a learned behavior for House Finches too? Originally, I only had
one HOFI who could do a quick "wheelie" on the perch, pausing briefly at the
bottom to snatch a single seed. I also had a HOFI who managed a good
imitation of a Hummingbird by hovering for just a couple of seconds in front
of feeder to peck at the appropriate spot.
Now, after about a year and a half (two seasons of breeding) nearly all
the adult HOFI have mastered the art of gathering thisled using one or both
methods. It's comical as they are far from graceful but it takes only a
little more than a day to empty the feeder.
Their presence hasn't discouraged the American Goldfinches which are
here the year around but I haven't seen a Pine Siskin in our yard during
this time. (They are uncommon here, but a few are seen every year in the
area.) Is it coincidence?
Does anyone in Tweeterland have suggestions as to how I can discourage
the HOFI but keep the Goldfinch.
Ruth M. Fischer
Richland, Benton Co., WA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Grant Hendrickson" <granth1 at mindspring.com>
To: "Tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2001 2:07 PM
Subject: The Lighter Side of Birding


> 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
>