<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Lancaster and District Birdwatching Society Newsletter
Newsletter of the Lancaster and District Birdwatching Society
SISKINS IN SPRING O.K?
Spring 2001
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While washing up after breakfast one morning in late February last year I noticed Siskins coming to the peanut feeders in my back garden in Over Kellet. Thereafter I kept a sheet of paper besides the sink and noted any visits made. Birds appeared every day from early morning until late afternoon, usually in ones or twos but up to 5 at one time from 21st February to 26th April. They are supposed to be attracted to red feeders like the one in my front garden, but they certainly preferred the green ones in my back garden. I believe this was because there are two tall birch trees there into which they came to feed on any remaining seeds and were attracted to the feeders by the multitude of Chaffinches,  Greenfinches and Goldfinches feeding there.

Eventually on 15th March I erected a 20ft. mist net across the bottom of the garden and it was then in use for a short time on every suitable day until 26th April. The net had to be kept under constant observation because the numerous cats in the village seem to find my garden a desirable place.

The first Siskins were caught and ringed on 18th March and the last two on 26th April. The largest number caught on one-day was 20 on 12th April. In all 88 siskins were ringed, but only 5 were retrapped,  the longest period being 5 days after first ringing. This suggests that most of them are moving rapidly through the area. A view supported by the two recoveries obtained. One had been ringed in Hampshire at the end of January and one ringed in my garden was found dead in North Scotland in June.

Keep your eyes open for Siskins this spring. My experience last year suggests that the ones you see one day will have mainly moved on by the next day. This year to the time of writing has been rather disappointing I have seen only 3 siskin in my garden the first on 17th February. But of course it has been a much colder February and March to date this year, lets hope the movement has yet to start.

Andrew Cadman




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