Golfinches are found just about everywhere.  They remind me of a sunny day.  They add bright color wherever they are, and you can’t help but love them.  As promised, here are some fun facts about Goldfinches:

• Goldfinches are sometimes referred to as wild canaries.  They are actually in the finch family-just as their name suggests.
• They have an interesting flight call with four syllables that can be likened to “potato chip”.
• They are common feeder visitors that prefer thistle (nyjer seed) and sunflowers.  They are rather acrobatic, and often dip upside down feeding on weed seeds like sunflowers and coneflowers.  Goldfinches will hang upside down to eat, but experiments with specially designed feeders have shown that they prefer to dine upright if possible.
• Goldfinches usually lay 5 pale-blue or greenish-blue eggs that will hatch in about 12 days.  Babies will fledge about 12 days after hatching.  An interesting side note is that  the nest cleaning is ceased about a week after the babies hatch.
• Goldfinches don winter clothes: the dull green coat of feathers grown each fall has an especially dense layer of soft, plumaceous feathers to provide extra insulation.CLICK ON THE YELLOW FEEDER BELOW For MORE INFORMATION:

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Every once in a while, I just watch the birds and read.  Today they were at my window bird feeders and they brought me so much joy.  The squirrel proof feeder was driving my little squirrel nuts (that a good thing).  And the bird bath that has thawed completely was a busy place for some of my feathered friends as well.  I sat back and found myself daydreaming while they played.  Once I came to, I went to wash my mug which had contained my coffee.  Written on the mug was this poem.  It fit right in with how was a feeling about this lovely spring day.  So, I decided to share it with you.

FOLLOW YOUR DREAM
A dream is a daring adventure
A journey to carry you far-
For when you can hold a dream in your heart,
You surely can reach any star!
A dream is a beautiful vision
That looks beyond what you can see,
Then lifts you and guides you
And grows strong inside you
To help you be all you can be.
A dream is your door to tomorrow,
A secret reflection of you,
A threshold that leads to a wonderful future
Where nothing’s too good to be true.

“Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings.”  Victor Hugo

Getting out on the skinny branches can be a bit scary.  Just knowing that we DO have wings, and if we take the leap we will have the wind beneath them, makes us more willing to get on those branches from time to time.  Go ahead!  You will learn so much about yourself.  You will gain faith in yourself.  And, every time you do it, it gets easier.

The Goldfinche’s ever changing color sometimes confuses folks as to who they are.  In the spring and summer, Goldfinches are recognized by their black wings, black tail and yellow body.  In fall they molt their body feathers and appear to be a duller green.  The males and feamiles look quite similar.  In spring and summer, however, the sexes look very different.

In later summer, the male defends a small territory of about 1/4 acre.  Within this, the female builds a compact nest made of downy fibers, such as thistle down and the dried bark of milkweed stems.  The young Goldfinches are some of the last baby birds to be born each year.  The little ones follow their parents around into September begging for food. 

Goldfinches love to feed on tube feeders.  Fill them with nyjer, thistle seed, or a Finch mix.  The most popular feeder with the finches in my back yared is the a triple tube feeder .  It has 24 feeding stations and you can see all 0f them at once.  The second favorite is a spiral feeder.

Always completely empty old seed from your feeders and mix with new and totally refill the feeder.  You will get many more birds this way.  Simply topping off your feeders packs the seed in the bottom. 

Enjoy these little feathered friends all season long with little to no efforts.  They will add so much color and delight to your back yard. 

Next I will tell you some fun facts about the Goldfinches.

Eastern Bluebird

As I sit here looking out at my feeders all covered with eager and hungry birds, I cannot help but notice how wintry things still look, with the anticipation of the spring.  Birds bring color and joy to my backyard and I want to do everything I can to encourage them to spend some time here.  So I would like to share with you some of the things I will be doing in the next couple of weeks to bring the red, the blue, the orange and even the green of the little Hummer to my backyard.

It is exciting that in the days ahead lots of birds who have gone elsewhere for the winter will soon be returning.  Oh, I can hardly wait for all the color and activity.  There will be brilliant Bluebirds, dazzling and acrobatic Hummingbirds, bright yellow Goldfinches, Orange Orioles & more. And, the good news is that you don’t have to keep the birds feeders filled to attract them.  We’re going to start with the Bluebird.

THE BLUEBIRD
I always gasp excitedly when I see a bluebird.  The sheer beauty of the male as he is reflected in the sun is a joy to behold.  The key to attracting Bluebirds to nest in your yard is having plenty of potential nesting locations, food and water.  Bluebirds do prefer more “open areas”, so if your yard is heavily wooded you’ll enjoy many other nesting birds – but probably not Bluebirds. 

You will need nesting boxes.  Our favorite is the Ultimate Nest Box mainly because of of the Plexiglas side for viewing and the overall durability and low maintenance  You will also need nesting materials.  This also provides a lot of fun while watching them pull it apart.  It can actually be entertaining.   The female Bluebird lays 4 to 5 light blue eggs that will take 13 to 15 days to hatch.  The male brings food to his mate and young during the first few days of feeding.  If you want to provide food to help and attract the Bluebirds the best thing you can offer is Mealworms  (YUMMM!)

Year round and especially in winter, a key to keeping Bluebirds around is to offer a supply of water.  Planting berry bushes like the American Bittersweet in the spring will also provide a food source for the Bluebirds next winter.    So what are you waiting for?  Get your houses up, meal worms and water out and just site back and watch for the brilliant blue to appear!

Next we will see what we need to attract the Goldfinch. 

You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.
Chinese Proverb

Some of the simplest of the Chinese proverbs never cease to amaze me with their profound wisdom.  When I read this one, I couldn’t help but think of the numerous times the birds of sorrow find their way into my life.  Do you let them build nests in your hair?  There was a time when I did – oh, not all of them.  Just a chosen few that played havoc with my mood, my productivity, my relationships, my job – yep, every aspect of my life. 

Are letting the birds of sorrow spread dark clouds on your day – your life?  Wanna know what my anticdote is?  Just simple gratitude.  If find everything I can to be grateful for.  I name them, and thank God for them.  Then I play music – happy music. 

Try it – it works when you focus on the good and the positive – it truly works!!

Wherever you go – your own backyard or another locale – make sure to follow these basic tips for bird watching:

• Try to observe the birds so they don’t know you are there
• Move slowly
• Make as little noise as possible
• Keep your distance
• Refrain from getting too close to a nest (This may cause the parents to abandon their nest, leaving the eggs vulnerable to predators)
• Do not touch eggs or young birds
• Avoid trampling fragile natural areas just to get a closer look
• Stay on paths and trails
• Don’t litter

As you begin to recognize birds by sight and by their songs, you will discover that your own backyard will start to come alive. You’ll be amazed at how many birds are all around you, and how much you were missing before you started birding.

Whether you live in the country or the city, you’ll find birds nearby… oblivious to us taking time out of our busy big lives to enjoy them going about their busy little lives!

Everyone has times when they feel tired and overwhelmed by the pressures of life. But notice, this scripture gives us a clear remedy: Hope in the Lord. It’s easy to put your hope in other things; maybe you had hope in a relationship, hope in a job, hope in the stock market. It’s time to redirect your hope to the One who will never let you down; the One who never changes, the Rock of Ages.When you’re tempted to give up on your dreams, when you’re tempted to just settle where you are, listen to that still, small voice of hope on the inside that says, “No way. This is not who I am. I was created to live in victory. I was created to overcome this sickness. I was created to rise above these problems.” Put your hope and trust in the Lord because He is faithful! As you do, He will renew your strength. He’ll cause you to soar on wings like the eagle, and you’ll be empowered to move forward confidently into the victory He has for you!

Is your glass half empty or half full?   So, the economy has hit a speed bump,  the holidays are upon us, and there are lots of pessimists out there.  These are the “glass is half-empty” people who are telling you what an awful season it’s going to be, it’s going to get worse before it gets better, the retailers are really going to suffer, etc., etc., etc.  Oh, woe – what is wrong with this picture?  We can all hang our heads and fall into their traps, or we can choose to enjoy this enchanting time of year.

If you aren’t going to shop as much, you will have a bit more time on your hands.  I don’t know about you, but there have been years when the hustle and bustle of the season has left me feeling robbed of some of the most important things in life.  At this delightful time of year, aren’t the best things in life really free?   There’s time to spend with family and loved ones, go caroling, and be very particular about every light and ornament on the tree.  There’s that trip to Longwood Gardens, or somewhere fun that we have been meaning to go for years.  Have you yearned to go hiking through the woods to find the perfect tree, with all the kids in tow?  Just do it.  Stringing cranberries and popcorn might be fun too, and then hang your string on the bushes outside and be charmed by the birds that will come and get it.  Choice is a wonderful thing. 

Let’s replace our “woe is me” attitude with gratitude!  In this economy, it’s easy to get lost in the blues.  It helps to remember what is going right in your life.  Try keeping a gratitude journal.  Switch the focus from the negative to the positive, and make a list of all that is positive and good in your life.  Be thankful, for every thing on that list.  People who focus on the positive are just flat out happier people.  They have more joy, and more energy.  There is definitely something powerful in a regular gratitude check. 

Each of us can make our own choice – half empty?  or half full?  Conjure up a smile, burst into laughter and make each day a day to remember and be thankful for.