During the last few years we have definitely seen more American Goldfinches during the summer than in previous years. The first couple years we put up a feeder, there were none. When they started to show up every once in a while, it was a major wildlife event. It fact when Cathi first saw one, she was worried that it was someone's escaped pet Canary. Since we wanted to attract them to our feeder, we began to mix in some thistle seed, of which goldfinches are very fond. Then we started to see a good many of them. However, they still would visit infrequently during the summer months. During the winter months, we were seeing up to nearly 20 at a time, but in the spring when the males' plumage was just beginning to change to the bright yellow, none. It took about six years from the time we started to blend in the thistle seed for the goldfinches to visit all year around. During the summer of 2002, they were seen enjoying the small drinker shaped like a sunflower that Cathi thought to put in the middle of her flower bed. She says they like it because they blend in with the yellow colored plastic from which the drinker is made. The Chickadees like it, too, even though they don't blend in as well. Everybody seems to be happy to share.