goldfinches

[martin butterfield <>]

When we moved to Carwoola (2007) European Goldfinces were reasonably common especially down on the Plain.  Their numbers declined as the drought 'bit' but since 2010 have built up again.

When I hecked in the past the decline was shown fairly consistently in the results of the GBS and COG general records and in the Greening Australia "Bringing Birds Back" surveys.  It will be interesting to see whether these surveys show the return as well.  NB contributing observations to data collections like these enables analysis which is not possible with anecdotal comments.

Martin

On 25 January 2013 09:43, Con Boekel <> wrote:

A systemic change over the last forty years has been the introduction of the widespread use of herbicides to control thistles in pastures. If thistles are being targetted, farmers will get to them before they flower and set seed.

It is many years since I have experienced the clouds of wind-blown thistledown that were quite common when I was a child.

If there is a direct relationship between the Goldfinch population and the quantity of thistles then my suggestion would be that, other variables being constant, the Australian Goldfinch population has probably declined significantly over the last half century or so.

Con

On 24/01/2013 5:20 PM, Wayne Gregson wrote:

There is often a very large flock of goldfinches in the paddocks between Lake Road and Lake George near Bungendore.  I would guess at up to 100 on occasions.

 

Personally I am always pleased to see them and I am not sure that they compete with a native species for their favourite (thistle seed) food.

--
Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/