I note that one of the regional names in the UK was ‘Thistle Finch’. In my childhood in Geelong they were a familiar garden bird, nesting each Spring in apricot trees that were just coming into leaf - one of the easiest nests to find.
A few years ago we had a talk at COG on introductions (someone from Brisbane I think). The point was made that, in certain pairs of introductions, one prospered and the other did not, as in the blackbird and the song thrush. Goldfinches and greenfinches were mentioned in that connection. In recent years greenfinches have certainly been more evident than previously at JWNR, the wheezy call being a regular morning sound. I think they feed on casuarina seeds, maybe on thistles but I’ve not seen them near the ground .
From: martin butterfield [
Sent: Friday, 25 January 2013 9:52 AM
To: Con Boekel
Cc:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] goldfinches
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
