The Siskin

[IanB 0]

An article submitted by Meroman on the siskin.

 

The Siskin

[craigyboy 1,274]

very good mate your right,they are stunning birds and all mine eat out of my hand

[scothunter 12,609]

wee cracking bird

[Malt 379]

Enjoyed that read.

[KDR 14]

Well done pal, very enjoyable read..

[freem 25]

That was well put together,

the siskin is a beautiful little bird that is much missed around our area,

it must be 10 years or more since i saw a wild one

[Meroman 105]

That was well put together,

the siskin is a beautiful little bird that is much missed around our area,

it must be 10 years or more since i saw a wild one

 

I see the odd wild one out ferreting but usually they arrive here in their thousands around mid January from Scotland & the UK and feed on alder seeds close to river banks and when this food is depleted they hit the peanuts in garden feeders, 3 or 4 years ago it would be normal to see up to 40 siskins in the garden around late January/early February,last year they were far and few between & this year I have not seen one.

I have five or six aviary bred pairs that will call them in when they hear them flying over but they are just not here this year.

I put it down to weather patterns, these birds come to the UK from the continent every winter always staying ahead of bad weather and when the snow hits the UK they fly west to Ireland to get to better feeding grounds.

In the past couple of years we have had hard winters and in my opinion the continental siskins have not visited, they have gone elsewhere to better feeding.

[freem 25]

That was well put together,

the siskin is a beautiful little bird that is much missed around our area,

it must be 10 years or more since i saw a wild one

 

I see the odd wild one out ferreting but usually they arrive here in their thousands around mid January from Scotland & the UK and feed on alder seeds close to river banks and when this food is depleted they hit the peanuts in garden feeders, 3 or 4 years ago it would be normal to see up to 40 siskins in the garden around late January/early February,last year they were far and few between & this year I have not seen one.

I have five or six aviary bred pairs that will call them in when they hear them flying over but they are just not here this year.

I put it down to weather patterns, these birds come to the UK from the continent every winter always staying ahead of bad weather and when the snow hits the UK they fly west to Ireland to get to better feeding grounds.

In the past couple of years we have had hard winters and in my opinion the continental siskins have not visited, they have gone elsewhere to better feeding.

 

mind you, i haven't seen any greenfinch or bullfinch in as long,

it used to be a right site in the garden, flock of greenfinch coming down for the table and various feeders and the pair or two of siskins that used to come with them

 

Where I am living now you won't see much beyond crows and starlings

[Meroman 105]

Here's a photo of the best Siskin hen I have ever seen exhibited, the bird won best in Show at practically every CBS show in Ireland during the '08/'09 show season and best in show at the INBBS show which is a specialist Native/British show with close on 600 birds entered....

 

 

[skinthegoat 26]

Meroman a superb example and a bird worthy of everyhing it has won. Thanks for the pic

[J Darcy 5,871]

Thanks for the Input Meroman....