Where have the siskins gone?

[Xanadu2]

Hi Folks,

By this time of year they would be going anyway, but where were they? When I first came here and started feeding birds, they were the most numerous species on my feeders in the winter. I put one feeder directly outside the kitchen wihdow and had stunning eyeball to eyeball views of one of our prettiest birds.

Then they migrated...and never returned...not even in the snow and ice!

[Dogghound]

Where abouts in Britain are you? Migration can be very complex and they dont always return to a set site. Depending on local food supply, population etc they can alter their approach.

[~T~]

Same here, I used to get 50+ visiting my feeders and now not a single one and I'm in Scotland. In fact now that the weather is improving most of the finchy types have dispersed. I still see some chaffinches and the local bullfinch pair but now the most numerous birds are tits and house sparrows. Even the starlings seem to be feeding more naturally on worms and stuff.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Thety are largely a pine woodland nesting bird and many of those that have spent the winter in southern England will have been continental birds. Britain's nesting population is mostly located in Scotland.

Cheers,

Adam

[Gill Catton]

I came across quite a few breeding in the plantations of suth wales. The male has a lovely song I think.

[Xanadu2]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Where abouts in Britain are you? Migration can be very complex and they dont always return to a set site. Depending on local food supply, population etc they can alter their approach.

The Welsh Marches. I belive that Siskins like coniferous forest and there are big blocks on some of the hills, though none near the house. I live on the edge of a village.