This has been a better year for the cardinals here, and eastern bluebird. I’ve had my family return and raise two families. I do miss the finches though.
Not sure if you’re even still asking about this but I too have noticed a reduction in the wild birds. The last two years it’s been steadily declining, and now this year so far I have not seen a single finch. They were always ravaging the seed and not a one this year.