How to Feed Finches in the Mountains
Wild finches are prevalent in many mountainous areas around the world. The two most common variations of wild finch, the house finch and the wild zebra finch, travel in small flocks from southern Canada to southern Mexico. Small and normally gray or brown, wild finches blend in with their surroundings and can be hard to spot as they forage for food. Feeding wild finches is an excellent way to attract and study these intrepid little travelers.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
-
-
1
Locate a small, quiet clearing in the mountains to set up your feeders. Wild finches like to forage in wild grasses for insects and greenery, so an area with a variety of foliage will attract the most birds.
-
2
Fill your feeders with a wild bird seed mixture and attach a long section of string to each feeder. Tube feeders are long, vertical feeders that have a number of openings and small perches, allowing multiple birds to feed at once. Finches prefer a seed mix that includes sunflower seeds, so using this type of feed will attract the most birds.
-
3
Slice your apples in half and run a string through the top part of each slice. Finches love fresh fruit, and apples are one of their favorites. Make sure your strings are long enough to wrap around the branches and hang down a few inches to allow the finches somewhere to perch while they eat.
-
4
Choose a number of trees around your feeding area and tie a feeder in each tree. Select a thick, sturdy branch at least eye level to keep animals on the ground from jumping up and pulling your feeders down. You can alternate feeders and apples around your feeding area to give your finches a variety of feeding choices.
-
5
Sit quietly in your clearing to observe your feeders in use. Finches tend to feed most in the early morning and late afternoon, so visiting the feeding area during these peak times will allow you to fully enjoy the fruits of your labor.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Be sure you keep your feeders full to fully enjoy the wild finch population. If your feeders sit empty for a few days, the birds will go elsewhere to feed.
Never feed wild birds anything that might be poisonous or harmful to them. Pesticides can be deadly to small birds, so wash your fruits thoroughly to prevent harming any wildlife.
