Yes, the Goldfinches stay all year but their color changes in the winter. I have one feeder solely with thistle where they turn upside down to get the seeds through the hole. Rarely do other birds try that but every now and again I see a chickadee using it. It takes a few weeks for the Goldfinches to get through it right now.
I also have 7 other feeders (so far) that I keep out year-round, and will add back in 3 hummingbird feeders when the weather gets a tad warmer. The others all have different types of food, or a different style to allow for different varieties of birds. One is a cylinder feeder which I fill every day. I use a winter blend of seed right now, and have activity all day. I also have a large suet feeder, which the woodpeckers really enjoy. I’m glad I got the big size, because it’s the only feeder that the Pileateds will come to.
On any given day, I have probably 15 or so different birds that I see: cardinals, chickadees, tufted titmice, purple finches, gold finches, house sparrows, wrens, downy woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, mourning doves, juncos, nuthatches, blue jays, red-bellied woodpeckers, Pileated woodpeckers, and a couple of male Northern flickers. We also get grackles that love to take over the feeder. Rarely do I see bluebirds, but they do come for a little bit in the spring. I think a neighbor has a better setup for them than I do because they’ve already seen them in their backyard. Occasionally I see a brown headed cowbird (I think that’s what it’s called, but I need to check that). A rose-breasted grosbeak was a little surprise visitor last summer, and only a few times did he show up.
Because we live at the edge of the woods and have a creek, we also see owls and Hawks. I’m still learning which ones, but I can tell one is a barred owl because of his call. I also see a great heron sometimes, usually after a heavy rain and the creek rises.
We get a nice variety of wildlife too. I love to see the deer especially graze through our backyard. I’m not crazy about the raccoons or the opossums. Once in a while we have a fox wander through, and wild turkeys, too. We also have coyotes, and I hate hearing them when they capture something.
We get a large number, most actually, of the same birds that you get but some are just passing through. We have Redtailed. Hawks and I hear owls but rarely see them.
We don't have deer or wild turkeys but yes to the other critters. We also have armadillos that dig holes in the grass. I never see them except to see the ones killed out on the street. I love having so much wild life !
We get a large number, most actually, of the same birds that you get but some are just passing through. We have Redtailed. Hawks and I hear owls but rarely see them.
We don't have deer or wild turkeys but yes to the other critters. We also have armadillos that dig holes in the grass. I never see them except to see the ones killed out on the street. I love having so much wild life !