Where are all my goldfinches gone?

Formosa

Up to 5 weeks ago my garden was alive with them, up to 40, devouring niger seed.

I ran out of seed and didn't restock for some two weeks, haven't seen one since, garden is very quiet without them.

Is it down to the good weather / summer meaning they are getting enough food from the wild and they'll be back later?

V_Moth

The birds that visited your garden are probably breeding in the surrounding countryside. They are territorial birds so they will keep to themselves over the summer months. They should be back with a few juveniles in tow from late summer onwards.

Alun

Mine have all gone too, just the odd tit hanging around at the moment.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Many birds that flock in Winter go their desperate ways during the breeding season. Even the old dependables in the garden through winter can be absent from April to September as they seek out territories and nest sites elsewhere. Food is also more abundant at this time of year, so they are not as reliant on what we provide for them.
They'll be back!

swifts need our help!

breeding and eating dandelion seeds

snaps

Beat me to it, I was going to ask the same question. Mine dissapeared over night, had flocks of them eating me out of house and home. Sometimes masses of them at the same time. Loved watching them and listening to them. One of the most beautiful birds that visit my feeding stations.

emo72

had one of them singing in my garden this evening. it was the unusual song that caught my attention. seen it on top of my birch tree. beautiful singing.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

emo72 wrote: »

had one of them singing in my garden this evening. it was the unusual song that caught my attention. seen it on top of my birch tree. beautiful singing.

Nobody said they disappeared from gardens altogether. It's just that the flocks disperse and, as gardens now become territories , the general number of birds found reduces through summer. Of course some gardens will hold a breeding pair of Goldfinches, others will have Robins, Dunnock etc.

KJ

Ours all disappeared for a bit but during the week, 2 came back. Today though, there are 8 outside right now. Glad to see them all back.

Kess73

As said by a few already they will have moved elsewhere to breed. They will also be less inclined to stay on niger feeders at this time of year as a lot of what they are getting for their young is live food (insects etc) and as such they will be in areas that are insect rich as well as being nestsite suitable.


What you might find is that towards the end of each evening you get two or three goldfinch coming to your feeders and once you hit the end of September onwards their numbers will again swell to what they were during the winter/early spring.