Wow, this thread is still going! I finally beat the squirrels; I had winter sown a few sunflowers. While they were growing taller and taller every day, I was afraid to plant them in the ground; I knew the squirrels would get them. I cut up a piece of green wire fencing, creating a cage, about 3' tall. They're awesome!!!!! One came from my birdseed; I transplanted it and it grew to about 5', with a huge head. I also grew "Russian Giant" and "Lemon Queen"; they're huge. The house finches returned and always seem to chase the goldfinches away, but they're flocking to the plants; I love it! Agastache "Honey Bee Blue" Echinacea Rudbeckia Oenothera biennis Sunflowers Tithonia "Sundance" I even saw one pecking on my buddleia today. DH saw a few on the Agastache a few weeks ago; even he was impressed.

They appear to be more numerous than normal here in SW Chester County. I ordered a second 39" spriral feeder last night. My second one from last year broke. The goldfinch are a must.

I have had "trouble" with my thistle seed feeder this year too. They are NOT eating it. So, I dumped what was in the feeder, and put in "fresh" that had been stored in a sealed plastic bin. The finches are still not frequenting the tube feeder. What's up with that?! I bought a new bag of nyger seed, but I seriously hate to open it until the last batch is gone. It's too expensive! I also have not seen as many gold finches in my yard as I normally do. Are they just not as plentiful this year? I see them drinking from the birdbath and sometimes on the No-No black sunflower seed feeder, but not on the tube feeder.

That's a wonderful video, joan754 - I wonder how the baby got to be so fat when it expends all that energy on flapping its wings. Is it nyjer seed that Dad's feeding it? Claire