I've had a flock of 15 or so red cross-bills feeding on my deck this week
along with the 250 or so pine siskines. The siskins have eaten me out of
thistle feed but I should be able to get some more today. In the meantime
the siskins are having to make do with sunflower seeds and quail/dove mix I
put on the deck.

Because the sunflower seed is too large and too heavy a seed for the siskins
to manage easily, since the cross-bills showed up the siskins are now
pirating sunflower seeds from the cross-bills. One or two siskins will get
right in the cross-bills face and either take the sunflower seed once broken
open by the cross-bill or will try to pick off bits of crumbled seed from
the sides of the cross-bills bill. What I first took for 'begging'
behaviour turns out to be out and out theft on the siskins part. The
siskins take turns on female and male cross-bills alike and have been rather
successful at stealing either cracked seeds or seed residue. A couple
cross-bills, as of this morning, have begun to take seeds away from the deck
before eating them, possibly as a way to prevent theft.

At noon today, Sunday 27th, a flock of about 25 evening grosbeaks showed up
and are taking their turns, rather pushily, at the feeders.

Happy birding

Mary Hrudkaj
Belfair/North Mason County
hrudkajm at hotmail.com