Our backyard feeder has been inundated with pine siskins the last couple
of months. We often count upwards of 60 birds at the wire screen cylinder
sunflower feeder and on the ground under it. That is definitely up from a
year ago.

A Merlin has apparently taken note of this and has set up residence
somewhere in the neighborhood. He swoops into the neighboring tree or
sits on the fence about twice a day. Last evening he perched on top of
the feeder and sat there for about fifteen minutes. So far, we have not
seen any evidence of hunting success on his part.

Grant Hendrickson
Longview, WA
ghendric at esd112.wendet.edu