 PROGRAM: Goldfinch Gardening
By popular demand, Lisa Bierer-Garrett, Conservation Outreach Coordinator and former Naturalist for the Patuxent River Park of the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, returned as a guest speaker to share her expertise through slides and lecture on Goldfinch Gardening – How to Birdscape Your Garden. The American Goldfinch is primarily an eater of seeds, especially during the winter, feeding on native and non-native thistles. However, one way people attract these beautiful birds is by placing niger or Nyjer seeds in bird feeders. The birds love them because they are high in calories and rich in oils. An excellent way to attract this species is to landscape with a wide variety of plants that produce seed, such as asters, coneflowers, sunflowers and, of course, thistles. Goldfinches need plants for more than seeds. Milkweed, cattails and dandelions provide fluffy nest-building material. One plant to avoid is burdock, it has multiple burrs that can entangle the small birds. Comments are closed.
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