I had seen a Purple Finch at the birdbath (completely ignoring the feeders) on Sept. 2nd (Clermont Co.). It was present for two days. I have not seen it since. Not many Cincinnati area records for early Sept. As for attracting Pine Siskins, I have had flocks as high as 150+ in my yard at one time. This is a large # I know for so far south. They (both siskins and purple finches) like water. Sometimes, they would come to the water and completely ignore the Nyjer seed. I think one big factor that is overlooked, is that there is a good number of native sweet gum trees around. I have seen them get at the seed balls of this tree. I also have white pine, Norway spruce and blue spruce (and some red and Scottish pines in the nearby woods). Red-breasted Nuthatch is still around. -- Donald Morse, Jr. New Richmond, OH http://users.adelphia.net/~morsedr/ On 9/13/07, William H. Fissell <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Folks, > > I have been very interested by the reported purple finch sightings, as I > have not been able to attract them to feeders, either in Ohio or SE > Michigan, despite good numbers seen at nearby feeders on occasion. My > feeder setup consists of two feeding stations about 100 feet apart, each > with separate thistle, sunflower, millet and water supplies. The > feeders usually attract house and goldfinches in good numbers, titmice, > chickadees, nuthatches (though no red-breasted ones yet here in Ohio) > cardinals, jays, chipping, song, and fox sparrows. The Brecksville yard > list broke 50 this week with common nighthawks, and I just got here this > year. > > Any special tips for attracting purple finches or pine siskins, two > species I have always wanted and never gotten? I have a few Norway > Spruces in with the silver maples. > > Also, does the appearance of red-breasted nuthatches and purple finches > now imply anything about grosbeaks and crossbills later this winter? > > best, > > Bill > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. > Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. > Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at > www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. > > You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS > Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] > ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]