Finches and thistle
Aug 14th, 2007 by Julie Kirkwood
I got a lovely phone call yesterday from a woman I used to chat with years ago, back when when I was covering politics in Peabody, Mass.
She wanted to share a tip with all of us. She has discovered, on her four acres in Peabody, that thistle — the prickly weed — is great for attracting goldfinches. In the spring the thistle produces a purple flower on top that the birds pick apart for the seeds.
Here’s how she described it:
Last year all of a sudden I noticed these little yellow finches came onto the purple tuft. They’re picking at it and picking at it. … It was so interesting to watch them.
Since she noticed this, she has been letting the thistle grow out in her field. She estimates she has about 10 healthy thistle plants now — an entire playground for the finches.
Photo courtesy of the Associated Press
