COLUMN: Finches make quick filagree of sunflower leaves

The goldfinches have launched their annual sunflower filagree program.  If you grow sunflowers in a goldfinch habitat, they will wait until the seeds are well set, until the plant stops growing taller, until days are much shorter than in June.  Then, and only then, the goldfinches begin eating the green leaves, leaving the largest veins intact.

In the image above, you…