european goldfinch

[josterhold]

hello birders
there has been an european goldfinch coming to a feeder in agaassiz for the past 2 days; this bird is most likley an escapee but it is a beauty. it does seem to be hanging around with a small flock of house finches. the bird does not seem to be behaving like other escapee birds i have seen before and is not banded. i am wondering if this is a common caged bird and if there is a local breeder or if it is the real deal; i do think it is an escapee but how does one really know. if you want to go see this bird call roger poulton at 796-9272(hm), 796-2235(wk) or on his cell at 798-2528.
his address is 7518 laurel place.
just thought i would put it out there.
good birding,
jason osterhold
chilliwack

[Gord]

I looked around and what I found and the opinions that were shared with me is that there has been no accepted records of these guys in North America. Even on the East Coast, where would be the most likely place, the ones seen there have been passed off as escapees. I guess they are popular cage birds.

But you just dont ever know for sure unless it is banded or you know of who lost a pet. Sure, the likely thing of an escapee is high, but who's to say that one or two of these birds seen here were not actually wild? Weird things do happen in the bird world.

The interest of birding.

[tmanson]

Come on guys; let's get in there, and draw some blood!! There must be a data base that would also us to do some kind of DNA study to figure out if it is a wild bird???

Thor

Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.