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An invasion of siskins (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Elizabeth Bigg
- Start date
Elizabeth Bigg
Addicted member
I'm now having mixed feelings about the siskins, because they seem to be edging out the goldfinches. My BTO count for last week peaked at 44 siskins, but although I had 13 goldfinches at the beginning of the week, the number at the end of the week was much lower.
Did you decide on another feeder Elizabeth?
When placing the number of Siskins on your count form I bet the "are you sure" message came up.
It is always a strange feeling when a new bird comes along as it seems to change the "balance" of the garden but they will eventually find their niche and settle down. That has got to be the best count at a feeding station I have ever heard of so make the most of it as I am sure the goldies will be back to full squabballing mode themselves in the not to distant future.
When placing the number of Siskins on your count form I bet the "are you sure" message came up.
It is always a strange feeling when a new bird comes along as it seems to change the "balance" of the garden but they will eventually find their niche and settle down. That has got to be the best count at a feeding station I have ever heard of so make the most of it as I am sure the goldies will be back to full squabballing mode themselves in the not to distant future.
Elizabeth Bigg
Addicted member
Sleeper said:
I now have two niger feeders with 6 perches, and one with 4. The small sunflower hearts feeder needs filling every day, so since I have a plastic adapter to screw into the base of a Droll Yankees feeder, I'm thinking of using it to hang a cheapo hearts feeder beneath.
The BTO count accepted 19 siskins last week, but I can't get onto the site at the moment to list this week's 44 - I'll let you know if it is queried.
Elizabeth Bigg
Addicted member
Sleeper said:
I should have taken you up on that bet!! No "are you sure" message came up when I put the numbers in this morning.
Hi Elizabeth.
I can't quite remember when the notice came up I think it was when I had an influx of cillared doves. I also had a note come up when I counted a hedgehog that came out early from hibernation which stated that the record was early.
Has the count increased any and how about the goldies? Hardly any birds at all in my garden today ehum!
I can't quite remember when the notice came up I think it was when I had an influx of cillared doves. I also had a note come up when I counted a hedgehog that came out early from hibernation which stated that the record was early.
Has the count increased any and how about the goldies? Hardly any birds at all in my garden today ehum!
Elizabeth Bigg
Addicted member
Yet another siskin update. It's quite difficult counting them on the ground, because they are always moving around, but on the ground here, feeding on the spillage there are about 56 and on the feeders and feeder tray 16, with a couple of goldfinches, as well as a goldfinch on its way in.
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I am probably wrong here but:
This large flock has got to be a once in a lifetime event (over the year). That literally made me chuckle. I guess you would be hopefull of some rarities turning up with that many birds flying into the garden. Elizabeth, do they generally fly in a large flock or do they turn up in dribs and drabs? Howerver they turn up ..........more photos please!
This large flock has got to be a once in a lifetime event (over the year). That literally made me chuckle. I guess you would be hopefull of some rarities turning up with that many birds flying into the garden. Elizabeth, do they generally fly in a large flock or do they turn up in dribs and drabs? Howerver they turn up ..........more photos please!
snowyowl
Well-known member
I've only had one Pine Siskin this year. It was mixed in with a flock of A. Goldfinches. I'm still hoping for a flock to swing by. Other years we've had them in flocks of 50+. Right now we are swamped with Common Redpolls, there were easily 100 on the snow and at the feeders this morning. The heavy snow is probably causing them to stay near the easiest food source.
Elizabeth Bigg
Addicted member
Elizabeth Bigg
Addicted member
Sleeper said:
Yes - it's just happened. I filled in the numbers for last week, and when I entered my count of 72 for siskins, I got the red warning - unusually high number of siskins. However as I have photographic evidence for this, I had the confidence to go ahead and confirm this number.
Elizabeth Bigg
Addicted member
Most of the siskins have moved on!
We were out on Wednesday, but in the evening we noticed that the niger and sunflower hearts feeders had not been half (or more) emptied as usual, and we did not see many siskins on Thursday either. Over the weekend the number seems to be in the 4-7 range, so presumably they have moved off to their breeding territory. Now we are wondering if the goldfinch numbers will increase again - I hope so because I have just bought 25kg of niger seed! :eek!:
We were out on Wednesday, but in the evening we noticed that the niger and sunflower hearts feeders had not been half (or more) emptied as usual, and we did not see many siskins on Thursday either. Over the weekend the number seems to be in the 4-7 range, so presumably they have moved off to their breeding territory. Now we are wondering if the goldfinch numbers will increase again - I hope so because I have just bought 25kg of niger seed! :eek!:
