Day 285: October 11th – Early siskins

Sunny, autumnal skies, NW winds with temps in the mid 50s

       The Pine siskin is a small finch closely resembling the American goldfinch in size but much more striped in appearance.  The siskins are normally found in the boreal forests of Canada, New England and northern New York during breeding season.  These little finches are normally a rare to occasional visitor to the southeastern corner of New York, but this year, they are rolling through in big numbers.  Not only are the numbers greater than normal, but they are here much earlier than would normally be expected.

        The finch forecasts for the northeastern United States this winter predicts a higher than normal incidence of these birds due to an unusually poor pine cone crop in Canada.  When these shortages occur,  a “bumper crop” of crossbills, redpolls, and yes, Pine siskins can be expected to visit the southern half of the Empire State.

       At our home, we have a number of feeders which we keep filled for much of the year.  Siskins are truly a rarity here, for whatever reason, but not so this year!  Last night, I glanced out to check the activity at the feeders and found no less than two dozen of the little finches feeding at the thistle feeders, the sunflower seed platforms, and on the ground below the mixed seed dispenser. 

       What a treat to have these visitors from the north so early and in such great numbers.  Today, they were still around albeit in fewer numbers.  Hopefully, we will find that these little guys will stick around for much of the winter.  We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again.  You just never know what to expect in the natural world.