As a certified bird nerd, I keep pretty close track of all my feathered friends flittering around the Iowa Blog Cabin. I have a finch feeder and since the spring have had an incalcuable number of finches. At any given moment I could look out the window and see a half dozen finches out there.
But last week, they disappeared. There are a few here and there, but it’s much more sporadic. They’re pretty much gone.
Here’s my theory. They’re nesting somewhere. I’ve read that finches nest later than most birds because they wait until the thistles mature. Not sure if that’s what’s going on, but hopefully in a few weeks they’ll show back up. I’ll keep you updated.
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | Home and Garden
I was looking online for a reason why my golden finches have suddenly disappeared and came upon your post dated july 09. I am hoping to find a reason. Mine disappeared exactly the same as yours. I would appreciate any enlightment. Thanks!
Rene, I’m no expert, but I really believe that during that brief period, they were off nesting. I’m in Iowa and I was reading that finches will wait until later than most birds to nest because they wait for the thistle to mature (their favorite food source) so they have plenty of food. This would be roughly about the time mine “disappeared.” So, the theory makes sense.
A week or so after this post, they all came back and were there for the rest of the summer (including right now).
Now moving into the area of pure speculation, I live out in the country and have a TON of finches. So I can kind of watch their patterns. They really seem to come and go in waves throughout the day and week. I suspect they have a routine/pattern they follow, making stops at places they know will be easy food sources. I always have some finches, but some days and weeks I will have a LOT more, for no obvious reason.
I hope that helps!