This summer, my daughters and I used to drive past a field of wildflowers every morning. Some days we’d surprise a goldfinch and see that bright flash of eye-catching yellow flit past us. Somehow the girls decided that seeing a goldfinch seemed like a good omen, so we always paid attention and tried to see them every morning. If they saw one, they believed the day would be good, and so it was.
I’m all for creating my own luck. I went out this weekend and bought a goldfinch feeder. I have it set up in front of my big living room windows where there is a “cat bench” for my three cats. (And sometimes the larger of my two dogs. Yes, I have too many pets, I agree.) Now my girls will have good days and my pets will have more entertaining Yard TV.
My Little One wanted to know why the goldfinches had to have a different feeder than the regular birds. I told her to look at the seeds, goldfinch seeds are tiny. Our other feeder has sunflower seeds (for squirrels, but we don’t mind if birds eat them). I asked her to think about how the tiny seeds would work in the feeder with the big holes. Yep, they’d run out like sand and make a pile on the ground.
Then she wanted to know why we had to have special seeds for goldfinches. I told her it’s just what they like to eat. She wondered why they don’t like the other stuff. I asked her how I would do luring a Little One if I put out a plate of Brussels sprouts. She laughed, no self respecting Little One would touch that! I asked how I’d do if I set out a plate of chocolate chip cookies. Yes, her eyes lit up and she understood. If you want to bring in goldfinches, use the seeds they like and they’ll come!
Aha. Now tell me -- are you setting yourself up to lure in what you want, or do you need to think about what you’re using as bait?
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