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Show BIRD IS FRIEND OF FARMER Goldfinch Benefits Agriculture by Consuming Con-suming Seeds of Noxious Weeds, Especially Thistle. (By H. W. WEISBERQER, In the Farm and Fireside.) Why do I class the goldfinch as a winter resident? Simply because I think that many a farm boy Bees them and hears the familiar "canary notes" and does not know them to be our common black and yellow "wild canaries" of the summer time. This Is what they are, but they have donned the greenish-yellow garb of the female. Often, If they have foundi a food feeding place with plenty of goldenrod or a ragweedy corn field, they will remain until the seeds have been consumed, which often requires weeks of time. They must not, however, be confounded con-founded with another, similar northern north-ern winter bird, the pine-siskin, whose Votes are somewhat identical, . but The Goldfinch. whose streaked breast can be distinguished distin-guished from the solid color of the goldfinch. During the winter they travel in small flocks, often in company with tree-sparrows and juncos. But when spring comes they pair, and then begins be-gins a long season of courtship, for they do not breed until into July. The males are very ardent and affectionate affection-ate lovers. Goldfinches are among the few birds that may be observed indulging in-dulging in kissing one another during the courting period. In the late summer and fall they visit the gardens, both in the country and in town, to gather what lettuce and sunflower seed they find awaiting them. They benefit agriculture by eating the seeds of noxious weeds, especially the common thistle, and in feeding their young upon harmful insects. Being Be-ing with us,, to some extent, throughout through-out the winter only tends to add to their usefulness. |
