If you look at a detailed zone map, you'll see along the coast it swoops way up here. I am a mile from the intracoastal, so I think that's the appropriate zone for me. I'm not sure other birds eat the thistle, I would think so, seems unlikely only Goldfinches would. Last year I was getting around 2 dozen or so goldfinches, with no socks, only sunflower seed and millet. Later today the goldfinches came back a couple more times, so I hope they are regulars for the season. I love their funny sounds they make. Gary

Kevin,when do you normally uncover? The thing that was so cool about this snow is that when I left the house at 2 or 3pm there was still at least a few inches left and when I got home around 5:30pm it was all gone!

Sorry to hear about the goldfinches. I do not know if it is related to the problem you are having but one time I had a similar situation and it turned out to be a batch of bad seed. Dumped out the seed, sanitized the feeder, replaced with fresh seed from a different supplier, and the birds came back. Chickadees used to be a common, friendly sight here - I even had them eating sunflower seeds out of my outstretched hand - but I have not seen a single one in two years now. Very disheartening. I think there are some serious environmental issues going on that we are not aware of (or are not being made fully aware of) that are destroying bird populations or are reducing species' ranges. Your dove story is funny... My goldfinches still feed to the left at least 90% of the time. Quite a funny observation that still makes me chuckle when I watch the little critters feed.

A month ago, we had over 40 regularly at the feeders. That was getting expensive. Now, I think what is left is nesting, for they are here in shifts according to gender. There are several females at a time, and then they leave and are replaced w/all males.