Bird feeding is a great pastime that a lot of Gasport residents participate in.
One bird that locals should keep an eye out for is the pine siskin. This brown and white bird with yellow wing feathers is often confused with winter plumage goldfinches.
The siskin is a Canadian resident which, in most winters, only occasionally makes it into the northern tier states. Some years, though, there are irruptions, when, based on food supply issues, they come to the US by the hundreds of thousands. That last happened in the winter of 2008-2009. This year may be shaping up to be just like that irruption. I've seen a few large flocks on the farm already.
If you want to attract them to your yard, standard sunflower seeds might not cut it. They much prefer nyjer seeds. Nyjer seeds are on sale at the local Agway this week at 99 cents a pound. A pound of nyjer goes a long way.
Learn about siskins here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pine_Siskin/id
Enjoy the birdwatching!
