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Sparrows eating my finch food (thistle)

17 years ago

Hi All,

I have several golden finches that feed on my finch tube. I load it with thistle seed but now the sparrows are feeding from it. I'm not sure if they are trying to eat and not getting any or if they are actually able to get the seed from the finch tube. Any ideas on this? It seems the finchs don't like to come around when the sparrows are there.

Thanks,

Joe

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Comments (7)

chickadeemelrose
17 years ago
Sparrows are such pests!

The only thing that sprang to mind is that I picked up a feeder made specifically for goldfinches (Perky Pet brand I think, yellow top, pretty inexpensive). The slots that birds can get the thistle out of are below the perch instead of above it, because goldfinches can hang upside down and do that, while other birds can't.

It has worked here. I still see the occasional bird (but usually a chickadee or finch, not a sparrow) try to use the new feeder, but generally it's the goldfinches who use it.

One possible solution anyway - good luck.
trublespud
17 years ago
I use these feeders, the only birds that seem be able to eat at them are Finches and Chickadees there called upside feeders.
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spedigrees z4VT
17 years ago
Thanks for this suggestion. I didn't know about "upside down" tube feeders before reading this. Sounds like a great concept. I'm thinking about feeding the winter birds again now that my cat is too old to venture out in the snow and this sounds like a brilliant idea!
cruzmisl
Original Author
17 years ago
How do the mesh feeders do with the sparrows. I was thinking of this one if the sparrows can't get to it.

http://www.amazon.com/Aspects-Medium-Nyjer-Finch-Feeder/dp/B0029DIYNQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1250476116&sr=8-2
chickadeemelrose
17 years ago
Hi - I noticed something else this week that might be helpful to your situation.

I had been working on a side garden and had the idea that maybe I could hang one of my feeders there for a change.

Well, I happened to hang the goldfinch feeder, and they love it there! They have their own little space to hang out, and I see them there all the time now. No larger birds have bothered with it, just an occasional chickadee.

So maybe relocating your finch food to a new place apart from any other feeders would help too. Just a thought -

Good luck!
gregdill
17 years ago
Thanks for sharing information.
kimcoco
17 years ago
My thistle feeder is mesh. I was also thinking of relocating my finch feeder as I have the same problem. I have it near my other bird feeder, so maybe relocating it will attract more gold finches. I do see goldfinches along with all the other birds at my fountain every day. Don't see them much, or ever, at my finch feeder.

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