one reason to love string algae

[addy1]

The yellow finches line my deck pond to eat it like spaghetti. They hang on for dear life to the board lean over the pond and select the perfect piece of string algae to eat.

The deck pond has a bunch of bog bean, red parrots feather, lily and some string among the plants. I leave it for the birds.
You can also see the bees flying in to land on it for a drink of water.

 

[Ponder Koi]

So very clever of them. It's probably very nutritious for them and gives more color

 

[haver79]

How interesting Addy. I would of never thought Finches would go after string algae like that. Wish they would of taken a liking to mine as I had an abundance of it this year.

 

[addy1]

I noticed them doing it last year, this year they line the board to grab it. Sometimes they sit on the water fall rock to pick up pieces that wash out of the pond heading down the stream. I have seen up to 8 at a time. They also like the small filter pot to bath in. When the stream is running they tend to stay away, maybe to much water movement.
Never knew finches were plant eaters.

 

[bettasngoldfish]

How awesome to see these birds at your pond. They are beautiful!

Never realized they would eat like that either.

thanks for sharing

 

[Lisak1]

I love this! I'm going to start draping it over the sunflowers and see if they'd like some with their daily seed snack!

 

[koiguy1969]

I've seen birds fly off to the nest with some...I wonder if the might line the nest with it too? or actually use it in the building?

 

[addy1]

Maybe, but nest building is over this time of year, they just inhale it like spaghetti suck it down, no beak carry away. I do find moss and maybe green algae in some of the nest, mainly the blue bird nests.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Interesting! None of the finches around here go for it, they just drink and fly away.

 

[addy1]

It is just the yellow finches, none of the others snack on it.

 

[HARO]

American Goldfinch.
John

 

[SE18]

I would have never guessed that finches like it (or any animal for that matter). I think it looks beautiful but unfortunately this year I can't find any. Maybe I'll have to go out and bring some in from somewhere.

Maybe someday they'll produce energy from algae or even food when the world become too crowded with people

 

[Mmathis]

Cool!

 

[HARO]

Maybe someday they'll produce energy from algae or even food when the world become too crowded with people

It's already being done, SE! While in PEI a couple of weeks ago, we had SEAWEED PIE! Delicious.
John

 

[RobAmy]

My goldfinches here eat the algae also. Good stuff and thanks for sharing