A survey revealed that better food in bird feeders and gardens contributed to a recovery in the UK goldfinch population by one third in the last 20 years.
The telegraph reports that "increases in population have been noted since the mid-1990s, but the survey is the first confirmation that the revival has been brought about by the bird food offered in Britain’s 15 million or so gardens."
Nyjer (or niger) seed is one of the preferred foods for finches and is readily available, along with the high-energy sunflower heart seeds. Feeding birds is a simple way we can all help to bring back species of beautiful songbirds.
(submitted by tif short, CA)