Throughout the recent mild winter people commented that there were no goldfinches at their feeders. Thistle or Nyjer seed went untouched. “What happened to the goldfinch?” was a common question.
This phenomena was not restricted to Westchester County. It was true up and down the east coast. Birds were not coming to feeders. They were able to find seed which in a normal winter would be covered with snow and ice. Seed sales were way down. My joking explanation was that birds were following the recent food trend and sourcing their food locally. They became “local-voires” finding their food nearby instead of eating store-bought seed.
But lately people are saying that goldfinch in their bright yellow spring coats are visiting feeders again. Why return all of a sudden? Why not continue to source their food naturally? One possible explanation is that the local natural seed has been depleted by eating it all winter. This year’s crops have not gone to seed as yet. So there is less natural seed available. Thus, birds are getting more birds at your feeders again. 
It is good to see them again in the bright spring feathers
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