birdsoup

Over the past several weeks many people have come into the store expressing concern that they have no finches in their yard.  They have a thistle/nyjer feeder filled with fresh seed, but no birds come and the seed level doesn’t go down.  Previously they would attract flocks of finches that devoured the seed.  “What’s wrong?” they ask.

 I should point out that during the same period of time other customers indicate that they continue to attract finches.  And the numbers from the annual Christmas Bird Count do not show any decline in the population of finches.  So why are they not coming to some feeders?

 After some research, I reached the following possible explanation:  during December and January there is an abundance of natural seed available.  But in a normal winter it may be covered with snow and ice.  This winter has been so mild that birds can easily find the natural seeds. 

 And birds tend to be “local-vores” preferring fresh, locally grown food.  So this year they are getting more food at their local green market (your neighborhood) as opposed to eating store-bought food.

 That is just my theory.