Beyond Thistle: Tips for Attracting Goldfinches
In summer, they’re bright yellow bursts of sunshine, in winter, they’re pale sunlight poking through dense clouds of snow… American Goldfinches, backyard beauties we all so love to attract. So how do we attract this little drops of sunshine? For years, the conventional recommendation has been to offer Nyjer seed, in tube feeders with small openings specially designed for a goldfinches’ tiny beak. It should be noted, however, that while Nyjer is also referred to as “thistle”, it is actually an entirely different crop from the thistle we see growing on the sides of the road. Thistle, in fact, is a member of the daisy family, complete with purple flowers and prickly parts. Nyjer, however, is a crop which is