For the last week our three clustered feeders here on Vashon Island have been inundated with a flock of Pine Siskins, between 35 and 50 of them, usually accompanied often by a house finch, a purple finch, and, most recently, by a goldfinch. Those that can't find perches on the feeders gather on the ground to pick in the scatter. They are aggressive and ignore the efforts of most other birds to reach the seed. Only the Steller's Jay seems to intimidated them. Even the Band-tailed Pigeons wait for them to leave. I've never seen this many in one flock before. Is it unusual?

Gus Schairer