thistle

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Thistle and other plants

The above is some type of grass that grows in New Jersey. I do not know the name at this time, however I gather these seeding grasses and I feed it to the Gouldians and other Finches including Canaries.

 

The above are the so called French Teazle. These are grown wild in many parts of North America. Unfortunately we could not find a seed grower to commercially grow this very expensive seed. They are grown commercially in many parts of Europe. Here in the USA I manage to gather a few pounds of the seed with a lot of hard labor. European Goldfinches go nuts for this seeding head.

 


In North America and many other parts of the world wild thistle is evident everywhere during the summer season. Canadian thistle, Summer thistle, Scott thistle, and others, the American Goldfinch and perhaps other species of Goldfinches in other parts of the world feed on these types of thistle, build their nests with the bloom/fluff and eventually they seed their youngsters from the same plant. A variety of thistle produce seeds at different stages of maturity for a good couple of months. I gather a lot of these thistle plants and feed them to the European Goldfinches and other Carduelan Finches in my bird room. Photo by G.A. Abbate July 2006

 


The above is another variety of thistle. I believe they are called Scottish thistle. This also supplies seeds at different stages for a good couple of months. The American Goldfinches and my Carduelans are having a feast at this time with this nature bounty.

 


Above is a field of the Chicory that grows wild in one part of my property. No fertilizer or insecticide spray on this plant. During the early spring we gather the leaves and feed them to all birds. Around this time of the year, July 14th 2006, the fields are blooming with blue flowers and lots of seeding heads in the milky stage are available on it. I pick the more mature seeding and I feed them to all our birds including Gouldians, Canaries, and all Carduelan Finches. Photo by G.A. Abbate

 

Above is a small quantity of the seeding heads of Chicory just about to be fed to all birds in my bird room. Photo by G.A. Abbate