	AllExperts > Birding
	Search

About Roger Lederer
Expertise
Any and all about wild birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience
Have a PhD and thirty eight years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, two bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 80 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD

You are here: Experts > Recreation/Outdoors > Birding/Wild Birds > Birding > feeding finches

Birding - feeding finches

Expert: Roger Lederer - 10/19/2009

Question
We have a large flock of finches come to our home each spring. We have been feeding them all summer and usually they leave in the fall. This year they are still here well into October and it looks like they have a new bunch of babies. We are worried they will not make it through the winter if they stay and they might freeze. In order to encourage them to go south like they always have, do you recommend cutting off their food (Nyger Seed)or will they finally just leave on their own?

Answer
I don't know where you live or what kinds of finches these are, but I wouldn't worry about them. They are not going to hang around just because you are feeding them. When they raise young they need protein - insects, worms, etc. This is awfully late for finch babies (unless you live in a warm place) so there's a chance they might not make it, but the adults will migrate when it's time. This is the kind of interesting information I have been hearing for the past few years because global warming is changing the habits of birds.

Add to this Answer Ask a Question