Kate, it could be that your seed had gotten wet and was getting ickey. Fresh seed will bring them back soom. You may also have one of their favorite natural foods that has just come into bloom and they are feasting at natures feeders!

One of the reasons maybe that it is too close to the hummer feeder and the hummers are chasing away the others.

Try switching to the black oil sunflower and hang that feeder in the same place your finch feeder was hung. This time of year when the birds are breeding they go for a better bang for their buck. crack a thistle seed and get a smidge or crack a black oil seed and get a mouthful... that's what brought back all my finches that disappeared after early spring thaw was done.

Barb
southern Ontario, CANADA

Thank you everyone. Last night I was working in the back yard and observed several finches at a different feeder in the yard that has mixed seed (including sunflower seeds) in it. As maifleur mentioned the feeder I refer to above is not close to any other feeder so I suspect that all of your suggestions ring true. I'll try some adjustments.

Kate

Just a follow up to my feeder dilemma. I filled the tube feeder with sunflower seeds and it just kind of sat there until last weekend. I went out of town for a few days and during that time my large feeder in the back yard was raided by our resident squirrel leaving it next to empty. When I came home on Monday the finches had re discovered the seeds in the tube feeder. So at least for the moment I can watch them from the living room again. Thanks!

Kate