Ruth,

I would think that the siskins have just started feeding in a different
place this winter and have probably not perished. Several years ago I had
large numbers of siskins at my feeders all winter. Then for the last couple
of years hardly any. This year I have had up to 52 feeding at the same
time. They just travel around and are not as loyal to us as we would like
to think they are.

Louise Fountain
Eatonville
dale.fountain at gte.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Ruth Sullivan <godwit at worldnet.att.net>
To: mccomb at olympus.net <mccomb at olympus.net>; tweeters at u.washington.edu
<tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Date: Saturday, November 27, 1999 9:06 PM
Subject: Re: Siskins


>Hello Jane and Tweeters,
>I must say there are getting rare on feeders. I used to have so many on my
>feeders and there used to be so agressive so little there where,taken over
>and scared the other birds away.
>Now this year i had 4 Pine Siskin sofar and single birds. I have lot's of
>House Finches but also miss my Purple finches here all together. It been
>mention on tweeters once about finches are declining. I am looking back of
>birding this last year and realy think now i did not find to many flocks in
>the wild either. What is going on are there some disease as fongus killing
>this birds ?As here in my yard never had sick finches as many reported. We
>als cleaning our tubfeeders on a regular basis out and use some bleach
>water to due so. Also fresh water one a week is verry importend
>
>Ruth Sullivan
>Tacoma
>godwit at worldnet.att.net
>----------
>> From: Jane Stewart <mccomb at olympus.net>
>> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>> Subject: Re: Siskins
>> Date: Friday, November 26, 1999 7:46 PM
>>
>> My winter flock of Pine Siskins arrived yesterday morning at 9:15. This
>> is first time I have had a flock close to the house this winter (If
>> anyone is tracking). They are not banded and I don't have notes from
>> last year for comparison. It is nice to see them.
>>
>> Jane Stewart
>> Sequim, WA
>> mailto: mccomb at olympus.net