Jay's observation of a Pine Siskin describes this species' nesting behavior perfectly. Pair bonds for siskins seem to be formed during the winter while in flocks. Jay's observation of the bird stripping cedar bark and carrying around a feather parallels what is cited in "Birds of North America" as nesting material frequently used. During the first Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas (1982-1987), Pine Siskins were recorded from 13 Atlas blocks (9 counties) with Hamilton County having the most block records (3 blocks with nesting confirmation). Peterjohn & Rice mention that this species nests earlier in Ohio than most other passerines. Most active nests were initiated in late-March to early-April. They also mention that springs following winter invasions frequently see a higher frequency of nesting records. I recently made mention of this concerning Red-breasted Nuthatches and the invasion of this species this past fall and winter. Keep an eye out for Pine Siskins! Do you still have them coming to your feeders? If you see any interesting behaviors at your feeders, take note of what they're doing and contact us with your observations. You may help add some valuable data to the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II. Aaron Boone Project Coordinator Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II (614) 247-6458 www.ohiobirds.org/obba2/ -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lehman, Jay Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008 7:40 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [Ohio-birds] Pine Siskin Collecting and Carrying Nest Material at Rowe Arboretum This is about an observation that may lead to breeding for Pine Siskin in Ohio. On Saturday afternoon, 04/05/08, at Rowe Arboretum, I found a Pine Siskin with a feather in its beak and stripping bark off of a cedar tree. With this collection in its beak, this bird flew off in the direction of another cedar tree in a stand of mixed conifers at the arboretum, followed closely by another Pine Siskin. Both of these behaviors, are indicative of nest building and at least attempted breeding. Rowe Arboretum is in Indian Hill on the east side of Cincinnati about two miles from where I live. I arrived at Rowe Arboretum between 3:00 and 3:30 pm. I went there in hopes of finding a Pine Warbler that has been at this location in past years. There was not very much activity. As I walked the path along the main mixed conifer stand, I heard Pine Siskins calling, and then I heard a Pine Siskin singing. I am acquainted with the song of Pine Siskin, because I lived in upstate New York and learned the song during the first Atlas in New York State. It seemed strange to hear a Pine Siskin singing in early April in southwestern Ohio, so I spent some time looking for the bird. It seemed to be in a cedar tree right above me but I couldn't find it. A well hidden singing Pine Siskin aroused my suspicions further, so I spent some time circling around the tree but I couldn't find the singing bird. When I apparently got too close to its hidden position it stopped singing. So, I gave up the search for awhile and walked other paths in this small arboretum. A little later I found one Pine Siskin at the niger feeder and also heard other siskins calling from other locations. When I came back to the original location where I first heard the singing, three Pine Siskins flew out of the mixed conifer stand and landed in a leafless deciduous tree, probably an oak. As I watched these birds, one of them started chasing one of the birds very vigorously, and the chase started high in the trees and then dropped down low to just above ground level and proceeded out of the arboretum to the north. Meanwhile the third Pine Siskin stayed perched and called, before flying off in the opposite direction from where the chase disappeared from view. I decided to walk around a trail that circles the east side of the arboretum to look for more Pine Siskins. As I walked this path along the east side of the arboretum, suddenly, a previously unseen Pine Siskin flew up off the ground with a feather in its beak, landed in another cedar tree and proceeded to strip thin strips of bark from the tree limbs. It flew toward the area where I heard a Pine Siskin singing and was closely followed by another Pine Siskin that was apparently sitting nearby. They both disappeared into the area where I first heard a Pine Siskin singing. I walked back to the area of initial signing but could not find the Pine Siskins. I left the arboretum for a short break to return home to get some reference books about Pine Siskin nesting and breeding. When I returned at about 5:00 pm, there was additional Pine Siskin activity. I found two birds sitting together in a bare deciduous tree near the parking lot. When one flew off, the second followed closely, and they flew toward an area not far from where I saw the bird collecting nesting material. I spent some time sitting and watching the tree where I first heard the Pine Siskin singing. Eventually, one Pine Siskin came to this tree and sat quietly on a small upward branch, occasionally calling. A second Pine Siskin came to this same tree in a nearby location, and moved about from branch to branch but I was not able to see any evidence of a nest. I watched these birds through binoculars and my telescope for quite a while without any success in finding further evidence of nesting. But I will return. According to the literature that I have available, Pine Siskins, like crossbills can nest almost any time of the year, depending upon the food source. The female chooses the nest site and the male accompanies her to the site. So, I likely saw a female collecting nesting material, and a male followed her to the currently undisclosed nest site. The chase was probably the male, bonded to the female, chasing off another suitor. According to Bent's Life Histories of North American Birds, Pine Siskins have been studied breeding in Nebraska after an unusually long and cold winter when there is sufficient food available. That description reminds me of this winter in Ohio! While I was quietly watching the Pine Siskins, the Pine Warbler did show up later in the afternoon and sang softly several times. I also saw two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, a Red-breasted Nuthatch and heard a Fox Sparrow singing. Jay Jay G. Lehman Cincinnati, OH [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/. 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