Expert: Roger Lederer - 4/23/2007

Question
HI, I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY MY HOUSE FINCHES SUDDENLY LEFT AND ABANDONED THEIR NEST WITH EGGS. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY FINCHES IN THE PAST 2 TO 3 DAYS. WE HAVE FINCHES EVERY YEAR IN THE SAME PLACE AND THEY USUALLY RAISE 2 FAMILY'S A YEAR.  ON MY PATIO UNDER THE COVER IN A LITTLE BIRD GAZEBO. I'M NOT SURE IF IT IS THE SAME BIRDS EVERY YEAR. WE LIVE IN KANSAS AND WE HAD A REAL HARD FREEZE 1.5 WEEKS AGO AND THE FINCH HAD BEEN SITTING ON HER NEST ALL THRU THIS. THEY DONT SCARE OFF VERY EASILY, AND ALWAYS COME BACK. WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN OUR BACK YARD ALL THE TIME, WITH MY KIDS AND MY DOG. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF MAYBE IT GOT SICK FROM THE COLD AND DIED OR IF THE WEATHER COULD HAVE EFFECTED THE FINCHES SOMEHOW. I DON'T SEE ANY AT ALL IN MY YARD AND I HAVE A FEEDER AND USUALLY HAVE QUITE A FEW FINCHES. THESE ARE RED COLORED FINCHES. THANKS

Answer
Frankly, I can only speculate on this as there are dozens of reasons they are no longer at their nest. Weather, predators, hit by a car, disturbance by kids or dog, disease, poisons, etc.
Without knowing your exact situation, I don't know why there are not more finches. But finch and other bird populations do fluctuate from year to year, so this may just be a normal year with low numbers. Also, global warming is causing birds to change migration patterns. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com