Monday, August 3, 2009

Goldfinches on Sunflowers



I planted a lot of sunflower seeds this spring hoping to harvest them and use them this winter in bird feeder wreaths. The goldfinches are feasting on them now and if they continue eating at this pace, there won't be any left for winter! The sunflower in this picture was huge, I was shocked when I saw that it had been stripped clean.

18 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Wonderful photo. They didn't want to wait until fall for a feast.

NCmountainwoman said...

Great photographs. I guess some of your birds are like grasshoppers. Forget about the winter and enjoy the feast now.

Anonymous said...

I had the same happen to me in the past. I guess you have to plant a field. On the up side, there should be goldfinch photo opts.

Sherri said...

Goldfinches in our area have been eating seeds from coneflowers, thistles, etc. for a few weeks now. They seem to be flitting here and there all day! The sure do pack it away!

Cathy S. said...

Great photos Robin, they are cute birds.


-Cathy

Linda/patchwork said...

Great photo...as usual.

marmee said...

i too planted a lot of sunflowers and they are being eaten by not just the gold finches but lots of birds. i don't really mind but it wasn't that way last year...i harvested a lot of the seeds.

Helen/patientgardener said...

I've planted teasels this year to attract Goldfinches, although our birds look very different to yours. I'm not convinced that the Goldfinches will find the teasels as my garden seems to be the only one with them growing in for miles!

Connie said...

I have lots of sunflowers and love watching the birds feed on them! They always drop plenty of seed for the next year's self sown crop.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

I guess it's food now or food later.I like the Goldfinch picture.
Blessings,Ruth

Anonymous said...

I have lots of goldfinches here, and lately they have been posing very prettily on my purple buddliea. Of course they fly away when I try to take their pictures! I know how frustrating it is when you are driving and see a pretty sunset. I often see them in the evening when I am at church, and since we are rehearsing our music, I can't run out and take the picture!

Jon said...

I love these photos! The goldfinches are in hog heaven on the the sunflowers.

Anonymous said...

Yes, he's well fed, I'd say. :) And beautifully camouflaged, too!

Naturegirl said...

It is amazing how they pick the seeds clean. In my garden it's the coneflowers that are picked at..guess that's why we plant them..so they'll come!
Lovely photo of the finches!
Enjoy watching them!

GartenGrl said...

Looks like some fennel, or cosmos growing next to sunflower...I feel happy and sad when the sunflowers bloom.
GartenGrl at Planning Plants to Plant

Anonymous said...

Hi Robin - I always love goldfinch photos. I haven't seen many this year. With all the rain we have had since spring, my garden looks like a jungle, so there is plenty for them to eat. My sunflowers are hugh and have been blooming for about 2 wks. Hopefully they will be tempting to the goldfinch.
www.barbsflowergarden.blogspot.com

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

You always take such wonderful bird photos. I'll never be as good at it as you are. I especially love them eating the sunflower seeds although I know that wasn't exactly the plan. ;) ~~Dee

Kylee Baumle said...

I was just telling my dad today how the goldfinches were eating the sunflower seeds right off the flowers in Max's Garden and he said he didn't think they would eat those, that they were too big. I assured him they did and now YOU have proof! I'll send him a link to this wonderful photo!