Hello Roy, I have seen them weigh down grass stems to eat the seeds. I have noticed that Goldfinches perch on branches, twigs, stems on an angle rather than horizontal, and they use the higher foot as a hand to secure seeds as they eat. They even do this with seeds from the feeder, having taken them to a slanting perch and holding the seed to the branch with one foot as they eat. Re Goldfinches and dandelions, soon after purchasing our house in Weybridge we drove by on a spring afternoon and saw the newly green yard filled with dandelions. Then suddenly half of the dandelions took off into the air - Goldfinches! We still talk about that vision. Barbara B. -----Original Message----- From: Vermont Birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Roy Pilcher Sent: Monday, May 30, 2016 8:00 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [VTBIRD] Goldfinch and Dandelions! West Rutland Marsh IBA, May 30, 2016 Following up on previous observations of goldfinch behavior. Note image. Cheers, Roy Pilcher -----Original Message----- From: ebird-checklist <[log in to unmask]> To: shamwariVT <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Mon, May 30, 2016 7:56 pm Subject: eBird Report - West Rutland Marsh IBA, May 30, 2016 West Rutland Marsh IBA, Rutland, Vermont, US May 30, 2016 8:15 AM - 9:45 AM Protocol: Stationary Comments: Replenishing feeders at kiosk.. All observations made from boardwalk. 27 species Canada Goose 3 Wood Duck 1 American Bittern 1 In flight. Virginia Rail 1 Calling. May have been two. Wilson's Snipe 1 Yakking! Mourning Dove 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Willow Flycatcher 1 Also tape recorded singing. Eastern Kingbird 2 Warbling Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 2 Barn Swallow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Tufted Titmouse 2 House Wren 1 Marsh Wren 3 Veery 1 Common Yellowthroat 2 Yellow Warbler 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Swamp Sparrow 2 Northern Cardinal 2 Baltimore Oriole 1 House Finch 3 American Goldfinch 4 Eating dandelion seeds having first weighed down the stalk to the ground. View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29998722 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org/vt)