[Birdtalk] Pine Siskins

[Lu Giddings]

hi Jack,

Pine siskins began coming to my feeders in late July and their numbers
have been increasing on a regular basis. This was nearly two months
earlier than usual. As Rick observed several weeks ago, red-breasted
nuthatches are also showing up much lower much earlier than is common. I
saw one in Bluff and another in the lower reaches of Montezuma Canyon
last weekend. And I saw a Steller's jay flying around Elk Ridge
yesterday, which seems about 4-6 weeks early to me.

I agree that finding montane birds at my feeders during the late Fall
and Winter months is probably a good indication of how hard the winter
may be up high. In this case, as early as the downward movement of birds
began, I don't think winter has anything to do with it. These mountain
birds would undoubtedly have been happier up higher in the cool conifer
forests than down in the hot valleys. It is my guess that the long dry
hot summer has impinged on food and water sources in the mountains and
forced the poor little beggars down low before the onset of cold
weather, when they would normally begin to show up.

I could certainly be wrong. Just my $.02.

Lu Giddings

roostertael at aol.com wrote:

> Hi,
>
> It looks like a fun winter is on the way. I just counted seventyfive
> Pine Siskins at my feeders. That is the most I have ever had up to
> this point. Word gets around in the bird world.
>
> Jack
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