It's that time of year again - Goldfinch Season 

  Now is the perfect time to put out your Goldfinch feeders. Goldfinch scouts locate food and inform the flock where to go as they start arriving early to mid January. Having 20-30 birds at one time waiting to eat at your feeders is not unusual once the flocks get here. Goldfinch flocks can stay on the feeders till late march, turning bright yellow right before April. They're a beautiful sight to see.

                      Here are a few items to remember when attracting finches:    

• Keep food fresh and dry inside the feeder. Shake the feeder periodically to make sure that the food is dry, and use a Weather Guard to help protect your food from the elements. Make sure the food does not stay in the feeder uneaten for more than three to four weeks.
   
•  Goldfinches love to eat fresh, dry Nyjer® (thistle) and sunflower seeds. Nyjer has a lot of protein and fat that is needed for growing their feathers.
   
• Due to their almost exclusive diet of seeds, goldfinches drink frequently and will stay close to reliable sources of water during dry periods. Use a bird bath and keep the water clean and fresh.