Pine Siskins already

Pine Siskin

A few day ago we saw 5 Pine Siskins here at Bobolink Farm, our NH home. They were hanging out with the goldfinches. We usually see siskins in late fall and in winter. Pine Siskins are northern finches that mainly breed in coniferous boreal forests. They leave Canada and northern areas and migrate down throughout the lower U.S. when their northern food source of conifer cone seeds is sparse. They then show up at bird feeders in the U.S.

An article by Ron Pittaway of the Ontarion Field Ornithologists has a forecast for winter finches saying "most siskins should leave the province (of Ontatio) this fall because the spruce cone crop is poor in the boreal forest."

So, will we see more Pine Siskins this year at bird feeders here in the U.S.? Stay tuned and tell us if they show up at your feeders.