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Keep Thistle Feeders out Year Round
If you adore the vibrant yellow plumage of Goldfinches, it’s best to keep thistle feeders out year round. Thistle seed, also called nyjer is enjoyed not only by Goldfiches, but Indigo Buntings and Pine Siskins relish this seed too. One of the benefits of thistle is that it will not germinate, so there are no worries of sprouting weeds below your feeder. Another is that Goldfinches will sit at your feeder pecking seed after seed (to feed their brood) so it’s easy to view the charming songbirds. Both their song and disposition make the American Goldfinch a favorite among many backyard birders.
A common drawback to the very long, tubular style thistle feeders is that seed gets compacted at the bottom and tends to draw moisture if always filled from the top. Some feeders can be filled from the top or bottom. Remember to dump old seed and keep feeders clean. The three-tube thistle feeders also tend to distribute the seed more evenly, thus eliminating the problem of packed seed at the bottom.
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What Makes a Great Finch Bird Feeder?
24 Birds in Full View! We feed wild birds because we like bird watching, offering up seed, nuts, fruit, suet, worms, and a myriad of other wild bird delights! In hopes of helping our feathered friends to thrive, it’s the hobby of backyard birding that has become so popular. Some bird feeders are more functional than others, they look good, but you can’t always view the birds while they’re eating. Most tube bird feeders obstruct the view of birds who are feeding at the ports on the back side.
Now there is a Finch Bird Feeder that allows full view of all 24 ports at once. The “Finches Favorite” 3-Tube Bird Feeder offers up thistle seed like no other. It allows better distribution of seed, so the seed at the bottom of the tube never gets packed down, when it then becomes damp and moldy. A great new innovative product, it’s worth checking into if you feed thistle, or nyjer seed in your yard.
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An Upside Down Thistle Bird Feeder
Thistle seed, also called Nyger is a favorite among birds and humans alike! Many folks choose to feed thistle seed as it will not germinate…leaving no sprouting grass or weeds below the feeder. Goldfinches aren’t the only birds who eat thistle seed–Pine Siskins, Juncos, Indigo Buntings and other Finches, like the House and Purple finch also feast on thistle seed.
You may have seen an upside down thistle bird feeder before, and the reason is that it only appeals to upside down feeding birds like the Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, and Chickadee. House Finches and Purple Finches will not visit this type of feeder as they are unable to peck at seed. If your plain old tube feeder is being overrun by others, and you’d prefer to attract Goldfinches, an upside down thistle bird feeder might be a good choice!
Birding Tips, Information & News
