Oakland County sunflowers: goldfinches feed as the fields fade

WATERFORD. The sunflower fields at Oakland County's Waterford campus are past their peak, and hundreds of American goldfinches have moved in to eat the seeds. Chief of Grounds Operations Mark Baldwin planted the fields as an experiment seven years ago.

The program started as a cost cut. It now covers several county properties, feeds pollinators and wildlife, and needs less mowing and fuel than grass. County Executive Dave Coulter can watch deer, turkeys, and cranes from his office window.

Employees and visitors can see the birds. The grounds crew won't mow until mid-April, so the seed heads stay up for fall and winter foraging.