A Closer Look Shows American Goldfinch Isn't So Drab American goldfinches, in their drab winter plumage, flock to feeders containing niger thistle seed. Never in all the years that we’ve fed wild birds have we experienced such amazing overnight success in the use of two new feeders and the use of niger (Nyjer) thistle seed. Prior to this time we had been refraining from feeding the niger thistle seed simply because it is somewhat costly. Finally we broke down, bought two new feeders and the niger seed from the birdseed experts, the Havegard people, and are now enjoying the rewards. It’s quite natural that some people who feed birds would balk at the use of this so-called thistle seed. After all, who would want to promote the spread of an exotic thistle plant to the area? The fact is that the niger seeds, sometimes spelled nyjer by dealers in order to promote the proper pronunciation, is actually not a form of thistle at all. It is a seed of the niger plant that is native to several countries, mainly Ethiopia, Nigeria and India. Prior to the seeds being imported into our country they are specially heat-treated to destroy the embryos, thereby preventing the seeds from sprouting and spreading. The seeds, containing around 40% oil, are very high in their fat and protein content making them ideal for feeding to birds. Our friends at Havegard Birdfeed Outlet claim that niger seeds are the "cream" of the crop for attracting especially American goldfinches, redpolls, and pine siskins to winter feeders. The two types of niger seed feeders we purchased are easy to fill and are designed to be used by the finches, including redpolls and siskins. The white nylon mesh bags have small openings barely big enough for one seed to go through, but the goldfinches cling to these feeders, then effortlessly pull out and feast on one seed after another. The other feeder consists of a vertically hanging clear plastic tube with small thin slots cut into the plastic a few inches above the metal perches. Fortunately the perches are too short for larger birds such as jays to cling to. We were quite surprised at how quickly (within minutes) the goldfinches learned how to use this feeder. Germans call these little finches, "distlefinks," meaning thistle finches, for a good reason! I used my "Rube Goldberg" instinct to quite inexpensively fashion the new "cross-arm" device for supporting the two niger seed feeders plus two other hanging feeders. My friend, Gary Nelson, threaded an old, used, heavy metal water pipe so I could fasten a three-inch floor flange onto the end. Two four-inch-wide, 36-inch-long boards were screwed together at right angles and then this structure was screwed to the floor flange, which in turn was threaded onto the top of the pipe. Small hooks enable the feeders to be easily attached to the crossbars. I had put the pipe into the ground before the ground froze, so now it’s very solid. An aluminum baffle was fashioned in my shop and attached to the pipe between four and five feet above the ground. This device prevents the squirrels from climbing the pole above the baffle. It’s been said that three measurements have to be taken into account to prevent squirrels from reaching one’s feeders. They can jump at least four feet straight upward, around 10 feet horizontally (from a slightly higher branch and then downward at an angle to the feeder), and 11 feet straight downward from a branch directly above the feeders. If you can place your feeders with these three measurements in mind, then you shouldn’t have the problem of squirrels attacking your feeders. Yes, we do have our share of gray squirrels, along with a few reds, but they have to find their food on the ground. Actually this works quite well because it turns out that there is very little bird food wasted. What drops to the ground quickly becomes squirrel food. A question that is frequently directed to us in winter is, "What are those little plain-breasted, sparrow-sized or smaller, olive-tan birds with the flashy wing-bars visiting the feeders these days?" Another expected comment is, "They don’t take just one seed and fly away like a chickadee, they perch at the feeders for several minutes eating one seed after another." Answer: What else could they be but American goldfinches! A closer look at a good bird field guide will reveal the American goldfinch in its winter plumage. The yellow patch at the bend of its wing separates the male from the female who lacks this yellow. However, this feature is neither always present nor always easy to see. One year when we were living at the Ridges Rangelight Residence Charlotte counted 82 goldfinches at the feeders at one instant. That provided us with the perfect chance to see the tremendous subtle differences in their winter dress. An artist’s depiction of one of these birds wearing its cold season feathers surely must strike a happy medium. This is an especially important point to keep in mind whenever you rely upon one artist’s interpretation of a bird’s plumage. American goldfinches do not winter in the warm sunny South. Fortunately they possess something that no other creature on earth can grow – feathers. This species has around 2100 feathers in February, generally around 1000 more than in summer. Their cold season "clothing" has been grown in late fall and will be shed in spring. Thanks to these dingy-colored little birds, who bring a mystery to many people’s feeders and who quickly become hooked on niger seeds, for bestowing upon our winter lives such a cheerful element of joy! This column appeared in the Door County Advocate on 12/20/2003. © Copyright 2003 Roy Lukes. All rights reserved.