I have one tube feeder for thistle seed and the goldfinches (and now a small
flock of pine siskins since the heavy snow came) are taking about 5lbs. a
week from it.

Dennis Rockwell
Kennewick, WA
dennisrockwell at verizon.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Diane Yorgason-Quinn" <Avosetta at hotmail.com>
To: "TWEETERS" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 6:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] rare visitor at feeder


> There's another question about the local wintering Goldfinches -- and that
> is their IQ. When Dennis mentions that they are only sometimes successful
> in cracking the sunflowers, I must say how amazed I have been looking at
> the photos of Goldfinches using all manner of globe and tube type feeders
> in the feeder catalogs. They have never mastered these feeders for me in
> this state, leading me to think those in the Eastern US where these
> catalogs are produced might be smarter.
>
> Diane Yorgason-Quinn
> Wauna, WA
> Avosetta at hotmail.com
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Dennis Paulson
> To: TWEETERS
> Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 3:30 PM
> Subject: [Tweeters] rare visitor at feeder
>
>
> Hello, tweets.
>
>
> I've just been watching an American Goldfinch trying (sometimes
> successfully) to crack sunflower seeds in the feeder outside my window.
> I've always been surprised that this species is so rare in my
> neighborhood. The last one I saw was October 2006, the last one before
> that April 1999, and a few others prior to that. The neighborhood isn't
> any more wooded than when we came here, although our yard is, and I have
> the feeling that goldfinches like more open country than this.
> Nevertheless, I've seen them at woodland edges all over the place,
> especially in summer. So depending on your perspective, common can be
> rare. Or if you lived in Barrow, Alaska, and watched the massive Ross's
> Gull migration past there in the fall, rare can be common!
>
> -----
> Dennis Paulson
> 1724 NE 98 St.
> Seattle, WA 98115
> 206-528-1382
> dennispaulson at comcast.net
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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