One of NE Ohio’s Late Nesters In Rehab

Just about the time many birds are done nesting, along comes a flurry of activity as the late-nesting American Goldfinch become active in these parts. With that activity on the rise, it’s not surprising that an injured Goldfinch was recently brought in to our Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Program. Treatment involves stabilizing the area of wing trauma with tape, with the aim of release back into the wild. (The tape is visible in the second photo below.)

Our patient is an adult, but the late-nesting habit of these birds means you can look for young Goldfinches to be fledging this month. These small, bright yellow (and black) songbirds are year-round residents of NE Ohio, although in winter, the showy yellow color fades to shades of tan and olive.

If you have thistle flower in your yard, you may see these birds enjoying the seed from your plants. In fact, the Goldfinch nesting season arrives late because they wait for the thistle seed to mature. Read more at the Ohio Division of Wildlife website.

-Amy LeMonds, Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist