My attention has really been drawn to the goldfinches at the thistle feeder these past few days. They are such a bright yellow in the summer – the males- and then in the winter they become a dreary brown – except for the black stripes against the brown wings. A clear marker.
They have been eating way more than usual for this time of year, and there seem to be more of them than usual as well. Looking at them yesterday (my office window is just a few feet from their long skinny feeder), I saw a yellow-ish color on their chests that I have not noticed before in previous winters.
They seem to be ravenous. They have always been picky – all the time I’ve been here, they have never eaten mixed feed / small seeds. Only nyjer thistle. Now they are gobbling it down. All this feeding, early yellow on their chests. Could spring be coming?