Today's Finches

[Tom Wilson]

Here's a couple of finches that I got this afternoon after fishing this morning.

Purple Finch

House finch

[buzzsaw]

Here's one at my feeder... except I'm pretty certain it's a house finch.

[Tom Wilson]

Nice shots Buzz.

Is that a finch mix your feeding. I ask because the finches at my house reject that and prefer straight thistle. I am wondering if your birds eat it all or sort through it too?

Tom W

[buzzsaw]

It is a mix, however they tend to go through the mix more in the earlier part of the spring and then I switch over to str8 thistle. I think you can see in the second photo that I had begun putting in str8 thistle above the mixed thistle/cut outs. I've never noticed them sorting, but if they ever watch and copy those darn Starling and Red Winged blackbirds I'm in trouble.

Here is a friendly one that let me get like 4 inches from him... only the poor fellow looked like he was partially blind, maybe some bird disease?

[Tom Wilson]

Buzz,

Type finch eye disease into google and you will find some information on this finch's problem. I had one of these at my feeder last winter, but I only saw him on two occasions.

It is some sort of bacterium that causes this. Be concerned if you start seeing more of them.

[buzzsaw]

I only saw it in this one bird and I was concerned. I do my part to keep all of my feeders clean as I was hoping it didn't pick up anything from my feeders.

[jonny_redhorse]

holy moly!....lol! ....that finch looks like it hit the grill of a mack truck!...gotta give that finch an "atta boy" just for surviving...lol! .........wonderful photos guys!......jonny