On Mon, 29 Jan 1996 08:29:52 -0800, Michael B. Brown wrote:

snip the Pine Siskins seemed reluctant to
> leave. I was three feet away and several still remained. I got within a foot
> and one was still there. It finally left, but as I was brushing the snow out
> of the seed tray, several returned. One even landed briefly on my glove.
> Geez! I knew they were aggressive little suckers but that seems to be asking
> for trouble.

I have also had close encounters of the siskin kind. I have two feeders
hanging from rather wide soffits. These are about 18 inches from an open
window in my breezeway. Not far from the window is a dogwood tree. When
it is standing room only at the feeders (very frequently) a vast host of
siskins take up station in the dogwood. When I refill the feeders I do so
via the open window. I have noted my activity has little effect on the
siskins. Some of them even cling to a feeder when I take it down to refill
it. A week ago I was showing my 6 year old nephew how tame the birds were.
I put some feed in my hand and held it out by one of the feeders and almost
immediately three of them were in my hand chowing down. In doing this my
head was very near the other feeder. With all the comming and going one of
the little beggers landed on the side of my glasses. I don't know who was
more supprised, the six year old or me. It sure wasn't the siskin.

Doug Hudson
Bremerton,WA
dhudson at linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us