{"id":74735,"date":"2020-10-18T05:24:20","date_gmt":"2020-10-18T11:24:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=74735"},"modified":"2023-10-17T20:22:40","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T02:22:40","slug":"autumn-pine-siskins-2020-is-an-irruption-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/10\/18\/autumn-pine-siskins-2020-is-an-irruption-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Autumn Pine Siskins &#8211; 2020 Is An Irruption Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter wp-image-117198 size-full\" title=\"Damp Pine Siskin at a freshwater spring\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6384.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6384.jpg\" alt=\"Damp Pine Siskin at a freshwater spring, Box Elder County, Utah\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27900%27%20height%3D%27643%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20900%20643%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27900%27%20height%3D%27643%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6384-200x143.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6384-250x179.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6384-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6384-400x286.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6384-600x429.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6384-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6384-800x572.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6384.jpg 900w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Damp Pine Siskin at a freshwater spring \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n<p>My Facebook timeline is buzzing with people posting photos of large numbers of Pine Siskins at their bird feeders across the country. This isn&#8217;t surprising since so far 2020 seems to be an irruptive year for these small finches. Some of the photos I have seen have shown 50 or more siskins on the ground below people&#8217;s feeders.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve seen photos of large numbers of Pine Siskins from the Northeast, Montana, and south to New Mexico and I am certain I will be seeing more during this fall and winter.<\/p>\n<h2>What attracts Pine Siskins to feeders?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Millet, thistle, nyger, hulled sunflower seeds, and suet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you are using any of those at your feeders you might see lots of siskins this fall.<\/p>\n<h2>Where in the country can Pine Siskins be found this fall and winter?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Practically anywhere in southern Canada and the Lower 48 in the U.S. See this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Pine_Siskin\/maps-range\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">map<\/span><\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter wp-image-117197 size-full\" title=\"Pine Siskin perched in a sumac in the fall\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6408.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6408.jpg\" alt=\"Pine Siskin perched in a sumac in the fall, Box Elder County, Utah\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27900%27%20height%3D%27643%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20900%20643%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27900%27%20height%3D%27643%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6408-200x143.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6408-250x179.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6408-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6408-400x286.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6408-600x429.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6408-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6408-800x572.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6408.jpg 900w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Pine Siskin perched in a sumac in the fall \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Both of these photos were taken in northern Utah on October 15, 2017.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>I usually hear Pine Siskins before I see them, their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xeno-canto.org\/322596\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">calls<\/span><\/a> are distinctive to my ears. I understand that some people have a hard time hearing their calls. I hear that buzzing &#8220;zreeeeeeet&#8221; and instinctively start looking around for these small finches.<\/p>\n<p>Pine Siskins blend into their habitat easily and sometimes pointing them out to other people can be a challenge or even a major pain in the rear end.<\/p>\n<p>I don&#8217;t have bird feeders set up but I do see large numbers of Pine Siskins out in the field during the fall and winter here in northern Utah and I am hoping to see more soon.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few articles about the 2020 irruption of Pine Siskins:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.santafenewmexican.com\/news\/local_news\/the-pine-siskin-causes-irruption-in-new-mexico\/article_3d437bc4-0bf6-11eb-9060-d3cf6361d476.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The pine siskin causes irruption in New Mexico <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/madisonaudubon.org\/fff\/2020\/10\/16\/pine-siskin-2020-an-invasion-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Pine Siskin &#8211; 2020 an Invasion Year<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/finchnetwork.org\/irruption-alert-pine-siskin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Irruption Alert: Pine Siskins Are On The Move<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Have you been hearing and seeing Pine Siskins? Keep a look out, they may be heading your way soon!<\/p>\n<p>Life <em>is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n<p>Mia<\/p>\n<p>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/pine-siskin-images\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Pine Siskin photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My Facebook timeline is buzzing with people posting photos of large numbers of Pine Siskins at their bird feeders across the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":117198,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27,1148,1210,26],"tags":[970,4299,4098,4620,3504,3495,6767,10542,10543,10544,4104,3493,6768,7474,6103,6104,7630],"class_list":["post-74735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-pine-siskins","category-utah","tag-autumn","tag-carduelis-pinus","tag-desert","tag-fall","tag-finch","tag-finches","tag-fragrant-sumac","tag-freshwater-seep","tag-irruption","tag-irruption-year","tag-perched","tag-pine-siskin","tag-rhus-aromatica","tag-seep","tag-siskin","tag-siskins","tag-sumac"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-sumac-mia-mcpherson-6384.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-jrp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":75475,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/11\/23\/cozy-red-tailed-hawks-and-finches-galore\/","url_meta":{"origin":74735,"position":0},"title":"Cozy Red-tailed Hawks And Finches Galore","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 23, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday morning the first birds I spotted and photographed was a pair of adult Red-tailed Hawks side by side on a rocky ledge in early morning light.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;American Goldfinches&quot;","block_context":{"text":"American Goldfinches","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/finches-and-allies\/american-goldfinches\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pair of Red-tailed Hawks side by side on a rocky ledge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/red-tailed-hawks-pair-adult-mia-mcpherson-5221.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/red-tailed-hawks-pair-adult-mia-mcpherson-5221.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/red-tailed-hawks-pair-adult-mia-mcpherson-5221.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/red-tailed-hawks-pair-adult-mia-mcpherson-5221.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":117141,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/10\/18\/pine-siskin-in-a-greasewood-at-farmington-bay\/","url_meta":{"origin":74735,"position":1},"title":"Pine Siskin In A Greasewood At Farmington Bay","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 18, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm always happy to have a Pine Siskin in my viewfinder. When I saw this siskin five days ago in a Greasewood, I thought about how easily they can blend in.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pine Siskin in a greasewood in fall, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-greasewood-fall-mia-mcpherson-4153.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-greasewood-fall-mia-mcpherson-4153.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-greasewood-fall-mia-mcpherson-4153.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-greasewood-fall-mia-mcpherson-4153.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61256,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/11\/07\/pine-siskin-and-rose-hips-in-autumn\/","url_meta":{"origin":74735,"position":2},"title":"Pine Siskin And Rose Hips In Autumn","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 7, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Pine Siskins are year round residents in Utah but that doesn't mean I get to see them as often as I would like because they are nomadic by nature.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Autumn Pine Siskin and rose hips, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-rose-hips-mia-mcpherson-9128.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-rose-hips-mia-mcpherson-9128.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-rose-hips-mia-mcpherson-9128.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-rose-hips-mia-mcpherson-9128.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":128256,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/05\/11\/arkansas-pine-siskin-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":74735,"position":3},"title":"Arkansas Pine Siskin Photos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 11, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"On my trip to Arkansas, I was been delighted to capture Pine Siskin photos. I believe there was more than one siskin frequenting my friend Steve Creek's feeders.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Arkansas&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pine Siskin looking up into the sky, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pine-siskin-adult-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-4495.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pine-siskin-adult-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-4495.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pine-siskin-adult-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-4495.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pine-siskin-adult-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-4495.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48557,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/09\/22\/autumn-pine-siskins-at-farmington-bay-wma\/","url_meta":{"origin":74735,"position":4},"title":"Autumn Pine Siskins at Farmington Bay WMA","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 22, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I took this photo of two Pine Siskins in the autumn of 2015 as they perched together on a wild sunflower at Farmington Bay WMA where they appeared to be having a tiff over the seeds.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pine Siskins in Autumn, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskins-sunflowers-utah-mia-mcpherson-2741.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskins-sunflowers-utah-mia-mcpherson-2741.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskins-sunflowers-utah-mia-mcpherson-2741.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskins-sunflowers-utah-mia-mcpherson-2741.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":59196,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/07\/26\/pine-siskin-foraging-in-a-willow-in-the-wasatch-mountains\/","url_meta":{"origin":74735,"position":5},"title":"Pine Siskin Foraging In A Willow In The Wasatch Mountains","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I don't have many photos of siskins in my portfolio and every year I hope to add more so when I was able to photograph a Pine Siskin foraging in a willow 5 days ago I was thrilled.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pine Siskin in a willow, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-in-willow-mia-mcpherson-1375.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-in-willow-mia-mcpherson-1375.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pine-siskin-in-willow-mia-mcpherson-1375.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74735"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74735\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}