COVER STORY: NATIVE HARDBILLS
THE month of June 2023 turned out as I had hoped, with chicks hatching. This was the case with a good mix of redpolls, siskins, linnets, bramblefinches and greenfinches. The only disappointment, in fact, were the goldfinches.
I have struggled with my goldies this year. One hen built a nest, but nothing appeared. Later I found three broken eggshells at the back of the flight. The other hen built a nest and laid in April, May and June - all without success. During April I thought I saw the hen feeding a chick, yet nothing came of