[Mnbird] Goldfinch Nesting begins, Dakota Co

[Brian and Cindy Drill]

I have been hanging some fluff balls for nesting for several years, and 
for the first time this year other birds are joining in the harvest of 
nest materials besides the goldfinches.  We have watched the 
hummingbirds gather from it--knowing the nest they build is tiny, it is 
difficult to believe they NEED all they pull off of the ball, but it is 
fun to watch.  Unfortunately, house sparrows are also finding the 
nesting material an easy choice.  I do find that birds will gather from 
this nest building material almost as soon as I place it out in the 
spring, even though I am aware that goldfinches don't raise their 
families until later in the season.  They must do practice nests early 
on before the real work begins.  And no--none of the nests are built in 
our yard, either.  Cindy in North Mankato

On 7/14/2022 4:25 PM, J. Baumann via Mnbird wrote:
> I have a ball of cotton outside on a trellis for just this purpose.  
> The goldfinches have been at it the last two weeks very regularly.  
> The female pulls, pulls, pulls and fills her beak with pieces of 
> cotton and the male sits on a tree branch above her.  When she flies 
> off to the nest site, he follows.  They repeat this again and again.  
> Must be nice fluffy nest.  I can be within 6 feet talking with a 
> neighbor and the goldfinch works away.   It's quite entertaining.
>
> *From:* Miller Johnson via Mnbird <mailto:mnbird at lists.mnbird.net>
> *Sent:* Thursday, July 14, 2022 4:18 PM
> *To:* MNBird <mailto:mnbird at lists.mnbird.net>
> *Subject:* [Mnbird] Goldfinch Nesting begins, Dakota Co
>
> Just saw a female goldfinch gathering fine strips of cedar for her 
> nest. The male gallantly escorted her from the cedar to a site quite 
> some distance away... and not on our property. Thief! We have a rule 
> that if you're going to use our resources, you have to remain on our 
> property.
>
> Molly Jo Miller
> Inver Grove Hts
> Dakota Co
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