Where did the Goldfinches go?
(Late winter edition)

Been a little slow at your Finch feeder recently? You’re not alone. Goldfinches are notoriously fickle. One thing that’s for sure, they only want to eat fresh seed at your feeder. If your Nyjer seed is fresh and the feeders aren’t clogged, then consider the following:
 

• Just like most other backyard birds, Goldfinches prefer natural food when it’s available. Even now, in late winter, some trees are beginning to bud. Goldfinches are fond of birch, alder, and elm buds. Recently I observed them gorging on the buds of some Siberian Elm trees in my neighbor’s yard. My Finch feeders have been largely ignored. No worries though, as soon as the buds begin to mature the Finches will return to the feeders.
   

• There may be a predator nearby. Cooper’s Hawks and outdoor cats are the most common backyard predators. If the predators aren’t well concealed your songbirds will vanish from the area. Cooper’s Hawks will sometimes campout in the same local for hours on end, even for days on end. Don’t worry though. This situation will eventually resolve itself-at some point the lack of prey will motivate the hawk to move on in the search for something to eat.
   

• The colder the temperatures, the more the birds will consume. As temps warm up and the sunshine continues to gain strength, the Goldfinches may begin to consume a bit less seed.
  
  Just wait for their spring molt though. Beginning in March, they will begin to slowly molt into their dapper breeding plumage. The males will turn bright yellow & black while the females will transition to a more muted yellowish/green and black plumage. To put it lightly, molting is an energy intensive process. During this period, they will radically increase the amount of seed consumed. 
   

• Migration. Contrary to popular belief, American Goldfinches are migratory. As the days begin to warm up and the daylight increases many of them will depart for their breeding grounds up north. Many of our overwintering Goldfinches breed in the upper Midwest and even into southern Canada. But not all of them migrate. Some remain in our area year-round. Furthermore, some of our breeding birds migrate south for the winter. They tend to return at some point in March-May. When these breeding birds return your feeders will again be overflowing with Goldfinches!