The colorful House Finch thrives around human habitation. A giant sunflower growing alongside the front porch of our local Dexter Mill makes a perfect perch.

The small midwestern town of Dexter, Michigan has a charming old mill that suggests days gone by. While local farmers bring their harvest to the mill, the rest of us stop to buy our bird feeding and gardening supplies. I was captivated by the sunflowers they had planted, and I chose to paint the scene along with the clay pots and baskets on display.

The House Finch is native to the western states, but in the 1940s pet dealers in New York imported the birds to sell them as caged "Hollywood Finches". When this came to the attention of the authorities, some dalers released the finches to avoid charges. The species prospered and has continued to spread over much of the east.

House Finches are attracted to seeds at backyard feeders, expecially sunflower seeds. They are "at home" around urban dwellings and live in oth city and suburbs. They also breed in these areas, placing their nests just about anywhere.