We have had very large numbers of Pine Siskin at our feeders at our apartment near Mallard and Parkcenter in S.E. Boise this year many times around 100 on the ground, thistle feeder, seed block and 2 squirrel proof tube feeders swarming with fussing and feeding siskin.  We also have lesser and a few american goldfinches but they do seem to come in larger numbers when the siskin crowd is smaller. The downy woodpecker, black-capped chickadees and red-breasted nuthatch seem to come whenever they want. House finches a little less so. Song sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos on the ground do not seem intimidated and feed with the siskin, mallards and doves. Of course all disappear when a cooper’s swoops in for a meal 🙂

We have two finch socks (Boise Bench) that have historically been popular with lesser goldfinches and we’ve had 30-40 at times in the winters.

Siskins have visited some years but not every year and they’d co-exist with the goldfinches. However, this spring we’ve seen mainly siskins (20-30 at a time) which seem to have pushed the goldfinches out of the picture.

And then… this morning I have just counted 80 siskins which just seems ridiculous. Is something going on? (“Nature is weird” is going to be the answer, isn’t it?)