Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. – Matthew 6:26
The birds of hope are everywhere-listen to them sing – Terri Guillemets, Quotation Anthologist
Last year about this time an American Goldfinch couple arrived at our home. They settle on a glass globe hanging over the backyard porch. The globe was intended to hold a small candle but there was no candle inside. The globe’s opening measures two inches. The opening was suitable for a goldfinch as they are very small birds, smaller than a sparrow. Shortly the globe was filled with nature’s debris. As the female laid her eggs, I would imagine it was a little tight inside and maybe she liked it like that, warming her eggs as the temperatures fluctuated. She may lay up to six clutches of eggs but usually only three are successful. We enjoyed watching from the kitchen window as the parent birds went in and out of the globe. When it came time, the parents assisted the fledglings in leaving the nest. It was an amazing sight and off they were.
More amazing recently was to see a goldfinch couple return to the same globe on the back porch. They spiffed it up a bit with more debris. AI offered this information: “Yes, American goldfinches, including those in Mississippi, are more likely to return to the same area, and even the same nest site, if successful in the previous nesting season. However, they don’t always return to the exact same nest site, but they will often return to the same general location.
The male birds are also called “Wild Canaries” from their coloration. At breeding time, the male is bright yellow, black forehead, white edges on black wings and tail. The female is not as bright, more like an olive color at this time. The tail of the bird looks longer than the bird. It has a notched tail. They have an erratic flight pattern and typically travel in flocks when going distances. The birds’ call sounds like “po-tato-chip.” Goldfinches are seed eaters. They like thistle seed for high-energy and often use the “puff” of the thistle plant for nesting materials. Perhaps beside the globe home for goldfinches there are numerous fields filled with thistle plants. Sunflower seeds are another source enjoyed by the goldfinches. Goldfinches are not particularly fond of feeders.
In captivity goldfinches can have a long lifespan without any predators. Often up to 4-10 years. Naturally while living in the wild the lifespan is closer to 2-3 years due to predators. Many predators also attack a nest with eggs and even the young. The Prairie has such predators, so we try to keep an eye on the birds coming and going. Since they are seedeaters spreading a bit of seed on the porch railing may be helpful. Another nice bit about the male goldfinches is they bring food to both the female and the young ones as needed. The newborns will be ready to fly about two weeks after they hatch; some will stay in the nest for another month and then leave. It’s the way of the world.
Shannon Bardwell is a writer living quietly in the Prairie. Email reaches her at [email protected].
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
