As Oakland County’s Sunflower Fields Fade, Hundreds of Goldfinches Come to Feast

(Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct. 4, 2026)

Waterford, MI – Just a couple weeks ago, fields full of sunflowers delighted drivers along Telegraph Road as they passed the Oakland County Campus in Waterford. The bright mix of yellow and gold blossoms of sunflowers of all sizes replaced sections of dull green grass that was mowed and maintained for decades before county leaders decided to brighten things up a bit.

But now as the petals turn brown and gray before falling to the ground, and the heavy heads hang downward towards the crisping dried stalks, it might seem that this beauty is fading. Yet for those who know what to look for, another round of nature’s majesty is just beginning as the fields have been overtaken by hundreds of dainty goldfinches feasting on the seeds.

According to Mark, Baldwin, Oakland County’s Chief of Grounds Operations, this is the first year for the planting adjacent to the Oakland County Executive Office Building. It’s the second year for sunflowers in the space south of the County Center off ramp, and the fifth year for a County-owned field at Telegraph Road and Vanguard. There are also sunflowers near the Oakland County Sheriff’s Administration building, which is also in the Waterford campus.

Baldwin came up with the idea. It started seven years ago as a way to reduce cost by letting certain areas grow naturally rather than mowing them. As an eclectic mix of vegetation grew in, it inspired him to make it more beautiful, and practical, by adding sunflowers. His team won’t mow the sunflowers down until mid-April to allow for animal, bird, and bug foraging in fall and over the winter. Then after mid -April, the grounds staff will start the planting process again.

Why is this little sliver of nature better than a patch of green grass? Baldwin told Oakland County Times, “This provides nectar and pollen for many pollinators like butterflies, honeybees, native bees and bumblebees. It requires less overall staff maintenance than turf grass, reduces fossil fuel use and also supports various wildlife.”

Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter has a bird’s eye view of the field from his office window. He often remarks “it’s like wild kingdom out there” while observing deer, turkeys, geese, song birds, sand hill cranes, ground hogs, even the occasional skunk.

County employees can also enjoy the space, both as a view from the break room and as a place to step outside and stroll. Chief Sustainability Officer Julie Lyons-Bricker said she and other employees “we feel lucky to have access to this special green space. I and a few others eat our lunches in the kitchenettes that face the field. It is a nice break, and we often see wildlife like wild turkeys and deer in the field. People walk and rest along the edge of the field between the sunflowers and our mini-forest.”

The American Goldfinch is common across the continental United States. Some of the birds migrate south for the winter, but others will stay year round if food is plentiful. In the summertime the males have bright yellow plumage, while the females are more pale. They are more independent in the spring and summer as the males compete for mates, but in late summer and early fall the families come together in larger groups to forage in fields for seeds and to form groups for migration. The birds also shed their bright yellow feathers in favor of dull yellowish brown and gray hues that blend in more with fall and winter landscapes. Sunflower kernels are a perfect nutrient-dense food source for the little creatures, and it’s no surprise that hundreds of goldfinches are enjoying the buffet of goodness that the County’s sunflower fields are providing.

That means that for humans too, the fields do not just loose their beauty just because the blossoms have dried and crumbled away. Stepping along the edges of the sea of sunflower remains sends scores of tiny chirping birds fluttering into the air as they escape into the nearby trees. Being patient gives visitors a chance to watch them fly back over, and the challenge of spotting them in the sea of similarly-colored stalks and leaves.

The sunflowers have finished putting on their brightest show, but the goldfinches are handling the encore.

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