Eyes that see the good things

The yellow finches that have provided me with so much entertainment over the years are back at it again! Although they are noticeable in the garden, they most frequently catch my attention when I’m sitting in the TV room located on the southwest corner of the house. There, a corner window provides both a southern and western view, and the branches of three tall evergreens provide birdwatching entertainment for both me and my indoor cats.

My recliner sits right in front of that corner window, and the cats will often join me there. If the windows are open, a cat will often stretch out in each of the windowsills. Otherwise, they’ll sit on the back of the recliner with one cat on either side of my head. It’s not so bad until the birds get closer, then their tails start to twitch and I get whapped in the head. Repeatedly.

My fascination with these birds started almost fifteen years ago. It had been important to me to go back to school and get my degree, but one day was particularly frustrating and I was ready to throw my computer through the window. I was sitting directly across from those windows, fighting a battle with HTML coding, while trying to get a website up for a final project. When I looked out the window that afternoon, I may have been gauging the window size to see if the computer would fit through it when I tossed it out.

Lucky for the computer that day (and me), a nosey little bird I’ve since discovered was probably an American Finch, chose that day to introduce himself. He would fly from his perch on the tree branch to the windowsill where he sang me the most beautiful songs. As I sat and watched, he moved from the windowsill to the screen itself. He wrapped those little perching toes around the screen and hung there upside down, singing his little heart out. The finch remained at the screen for a long time that day, and returned every morning all summer. He even got so comfortable with me that I could go to the window and talk to him and he wouldn’t fly away.

Ever since that day, I’ve had finches coming to this window every summer since. Although they say that birds can return to the same place every year, it’s important to note that birds also have a short lifespan. These are not the same birds, but they’re exhibiting the same behaviors—every year—and it’s awesome!

Their behaviors were fascinating and prompted a little research. Since the finches have been coming to my yard every year, it would be helpful to know what brings them back, so I can make sure it will keep happening. The information provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology was helpful.

The little yellow finches in my yard are also known as the American goldfinch (Spinus tristus). It’s native to North America with bright yellow feathers with black and white trim on its wings, tail and head. The birds are fun to watch, because of their beautiful color, but also because they’re so acrobatic in flight. These finches are a favorite for people because of it beautiful and lilting song.

How can you attract finches to your yard?

• Shrubs and trees are necessary for nesting. Plant them, if you don’t already have any, in an area that is suitable near open fields and water. The American Goldfinches like a mix of trees and shrubs that grow between four feet and 30 feet high. We have them. Check.

• The little yellow finches are attracted to wildflowers and thistles for food. However, they also like to use the woody material and down from thistles, milkweed, cattails and other grasses to make nests, which makes it easy for me to see why they keep coming back to our area every year. We have thistles, milkweed, cattails and other grasses to spare. Check, check.

• They prefer nesting near a water source for drinking and bathing. A birdbath may need to be added to our yard since the nearest available water source here is either the water-filled ditch or the slough. They might appreciate some clean water and they’d be fun for me to watch.

What do they like to eat?

• Finches are “cling and peck” feeders, meaning that they prefer to cling to the end of flowers or grass stocks to eat, so it’s wise to choose a feeder that they can cling to and hang on. They aren’t fond of feeders with perches. You can also use mesh stockings tied at the ends and hung in trees or choose a plastic tube feeder that is specifically designed for finches.

• Finches prefer niger thistle seeds, sunflowers, dandelions, millet, flax and goldenrod.

• If you place your feeder in a safe, visible location that is out of reach for predators that could eat their food or could eat them, you will be able to enjoy watching the little yellow finches, too. It’s reassuring that the environment in my yard is a natural habitat for finches and that they will most likely keep coming back.

This year, the birds seem to know the cats can’t get to them as they’re almost taunting them. If you’ll excuse me, the finches are back at the window and I must go watch the show.

We would love to share local stories about the good things your eyes are seeing.

Stop in to share your stories with us, give us a call at 947-2417 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Or send a letter to Eyes That See the Good in Things, c/o Allison Lindgren, The Transcript, 6 8th St N., New Rockford, ND 58356.