General Discussion

Omaha Steve

(99,496 posts) Sun Jun 22, 2014, 07:09 PM Jun 2014

What Makes Goldfinches Wait Until July To Nest?

http://wild.enature.com/blog/what-makes-goldfinches-wait-until-july-to-nest?utm_source=eNature+Master+List&utm_campaign=8df8f3a9d4-On_The_Wild_Side_Summer_Solstice_20146_20_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fdc5c25bf0-8df8f3a9d4-58235496

Male American Goldfinch
© Mdf

Female American Goldfinch
© Stevehdc

Posted on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 by eNature

By July, most songbirds are in the final stages of raising their young, but not the American Goldfinches.

These appealing, colorful birds are just getting started.

Notoriously late nesters, goldfinches have been waiting for the thistles to bloom. When this happens in July, it signals the goldfinches that they can start building their nests which are made primarily of the silver fibers and down of thistle blooms. Generally, the nest is built in the fork of a horizontal tree limb, 4 to 14 feet above the ground.

The female builds a durable, neat cup of thistle and cattail fibers, so dense that it will hold water. In it she lays 4 to 6 pale blue to white eggs and then she incubates them for 12 to 14 days, until they hatch. The attentive male often feeds his mate while she sits on the nest.

- See more at: http://wild.enature.com/blog/what-makes-goldfinches-wait-until-july-to-nest?utm_source=eNature+Master+List&utm_campaign=8df8f3a9d4-On_The_Wild_Side_Summer_Solstice_20146_20_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fdc5c25bf0-8df8f3a9d4-58235496#sthash.seXb2Zc7.dpuf

3 replies

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What Makes Goldfinches Wait Until July To Nest? (Original Post) Omaha Steve Jun 2014 OP

I have a few pair that visit my feeder daily. FarPoint Jun 2014 #1

Protection Island KT2000 Jun 2014 #2

I did not read past the headline. Jenoch Jun 2014 #3

FarPoint

(12,288 posts)

1. I have a few pair that visit my feeder daily.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Jun 22, 2014, 07:23 PM

Jun 2014

They must be nesting close. Didn't realize they were just starting to prepare for their family growth now.

KT2000

(20,568 posts)

2. Protection Island

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Jun 22, 2014, 08:10 PM

Jun 2014

is out in the water where I live. It is the nesting grounds for 75% of the seabirds in Puget Sound. It is a small island with rocky beaches, cliffs and grasses and low bushes on the top. So many different birds use it and the different breeds rotate their nests. There are holes in the cliffs that are used by different breeds at different times. I guess they have been forced into that area because much of their habitat has been lost. Anyway, they have worked it out so they can all nest there.

The island was going to be turned into vacation lots at one time - the whole top was going to be filled with recreation vehicles on tiny lots to serve as summer homes. A woman who understood the importance of the island to the birds began a campaign to stop the development. She called the White House every day as well as the US Fish & Wildlife. Every weekday! Finally someone at the White House directed F&W to look into it and the development was stopped and the island preserved for the birds. No humans allowed.
I think of her when I get involved in activism - no matter what - keep going!

Thanks for the info about the finches - I am a big donor of thistle and my neighbor has cattails.

Jenoch

(7,720 posts)

3. I did not read past the headline.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Jun 22, 2014, 08:14 PM

Jun 2014

I believe the answer is they wait until grasses and other seed bearing plants have gone to seed.

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