Subject: Pine Siskin - diseased?
Date: Feb 5 20:40:30 2004
From: Maureen Ellis - mj2ephd at u.washington.edu


The illness among Pine Siskins seems to be widespread. I have had sick
and dead ones at my feeders also. I live on the northeast edge of
Seahurst Park in west Burien, WA. I did not see this 'epidemic' in
Siskins showing up at my feeders over the past 5 years till this winter.
I have lots of chickadees emptying the sunflower seed feeders frequently.
Bushtits, VARIED THRUSHES, Downy Woodpeckers, Steller's Jays, Juncoes, on
accasion both Song Sparrows and Fox Sparrows, Flickers, two species
Chickadees........all swarming over the suet block much more so than in
the past. This is the first year (in 5 years I've lived here) to have
sparrows and the thrushes at the suet.
Celebrating my 4th floor condo deck container tulips and daffodils all
coming up!
Cheers, me2
****************************************
Maureen Ellis, PhD, Research Scientist
Woods Lab, Toxicology Group at Roos 1, Box 354695
Lab/Office phone: 206-685-1938 Email: mj2ephd at u.washington.edu
DEOHS, SPHCM, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
****************************************

"To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities
as you do at conclusions." ____Ben Franklin

"Be the change you want to see in the world." ____Ghandi

On Thu, 5 Feb 2004, J Bonham wrote:

> I have been watching the discussion about Pine Siskin disease. I have a Pine Siskin, apparently a female, that I am now worried about.
>
> In the research I have been trying to do on Pine Siskins, they are not supposed to be solitary birds. The one coming regularly to my feeder seems to be alone. To my knowledge, I have yet to hear it. Of course, that could be because I don't really know what to listen for yet.
>
> This particular bird sat for nearly an hour today on the outer end of my "Chickadee" feeder. It didn't move at all, except for seeming to be alert to the other birds coming and going. It sat ruffled up the entire time.
>
> Again about an hour later I saw it on my thistle feeder. It sat, ruffled up, seemingly alert to the other birds as they came and went to this feeder, but did not move at all from its perch.
>
> Is this normal for a Pine Siskin? I have gotten pretty attached to her, and she lets me within a foot or two of her now. Her apparent lethargy is beginning to worry me after I read about Pine Siskin disease. Should I be worried? I'm only disinfecting my feeder about once a week, and I don't want to endanger the other birds using it.
>
> J.V.Bonham
> Centralia, WA
> jvbonham at msn.com
>