Ranger at Large!

• Pine Siskins - Monday 9 February 2009

It has been an incredible winter for this species in the South-eastern USA, perhaps unprecedented. Reports first starting hitting the listservs in October and by the turn of the year some lucky backyard birders in Geogia and Alabama were seeing flocks of siskins numbering into the hundreds at their thistle socks and sunflower feeders. One even made it to the Everglades! Here in Tallahassee I've heard of large flocks at feeders and I've been seeing them at almost every site I've birded this winter, feeding on sweetgum seeds with the American Goldfinches. We haven't had big numbers in our yard yet. So far our max count of siskins has been 4. They are aggressive little buggers and chase off the goldfinches especially from the sock. I was surfing the internet a few months ago trying to glean more information on this years irruption and I came across a winter finch report written by Ron Pittaway from Canada. Here is a link for anybody who is interested. Winter Finch Report Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus The yard was full of birds this afteroon including up to 7 Baltimore Orioles and an Orange-crowned Warbler. Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata

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