Greetings birders,

During the last 40 years, living in Madrona (central Seattle
above Lake Washington) we have seen an occasional American Goldfinch at our
feeders among the House Finches and Black-capped Chickadees. Last May, for
the first time, we had large flocks of Goldfinch in breeding plumage for
about a month. And for the past two months we have had large flocks in
winter plumage, particularly in the morning, swarming over our feeders of
nijer seed and cracked sunflower seed. The flock this morning consisted of
20 or 30 birds, all in at once! These flocks include occasional Siskins,
and are surrounded by multiple Chickadees and our Anna's Hummers.

Has anyone else noted a significant increase in the Goldfinches
here in urban Seattle during the past year? And is it all the result of my
soaking the nijer seed in gin before loading my feeder???

Happy goldfinching,

Fran Wood (male)

Seattle
(Madrona)

206-323-2296
<fbwood at u.washiongton.edu>