An excellent photo by Robert, of a pair of house finches, which can be found in small flocks around the FWG, along with juncos, cardinals, chickadees, and nuthatches. It may surprise some folk to learn that back in the mid-1980s, there were only a few reports of this species around Ottawa, and they could be found only in a couple of locations. Since then, this once exclusively western species has spread widely. They were introduced into New York in the 1940s, spread quickly for some years, but then took their time reaching Ottawa. I remember they were more frequently seen in Smiths Falls first, but by the late 1980s they had increased substantially in this area. Currently, it appears as if their numbers are falling off somewhat.