Page 21 - Harnett Life Winter 2020

Pine Siskin

and breeding in areas where seeds and fruits are plentiful and
heading out of town when crops fail. In a meager year for seed The pine siskins is another from the finch family keeping com-
supply, birds will migrate in search of food, and during a wide- pany here of late. Brown and heavily striped with a flash of
spread crop failure — like this winter — they venture far into bright yellow on their wings and tails, pine siskins are typically
the U.S., even down south to us. found in abundance across Canada, and to a lesser extent, in
the U.S. This year, though, they are everywhere in-between
Perhaps you have seen the friendly red-breasted nuthatch at as they forage for what food they can find in North Carolina’s
your feeder lately. Closely related to the resident brown-head- woodlands and backyards. They feed on the seeds of various
ed and white-breasted nuthatches that always stay in our midst, trees like pine and spruce and flowering plants and grasses, so
maybe a pair or two of the animated, monogamous birds have stop by a few local parks or preserves to see some of the birds,
chosen to overwinter with you and your well-stocked bird usually seen in flocks. Not shy, siskins will gladly munch on
feeder. Why continue the south flight when the grub here is any of their favorites — particularly Nyjer, the seed of the Af-
good? They are especially fond of black-oil sunflower seeds, rican yellow daisy casually called thistle seed, sunflower seeds
peanuts and suet. Feed the tiny, long-billed songbirds and ac- or chips and millet. In the warmer months, they do eat caterpil-
cept their amazing antics as your reward. Able to creatively lars, spiders and such.
scale tree trunks headfirst, they find food that other birds miss.
The brave little birds are incredibly territorial and intelligent, What birds will you see in any given winter in Southeastern
noted for warding off larger birds with loud calls and using North Carolina? A wide variety of year-round songbirds live
resin and pieces of bark as tools to protect their nest openings. here, such as the cardinal, robin, mockingbird, chickadee, tit-
If you hear a “yank yank” nasal sound similar in volume to a mouse, nuthatch and goldfinch. Come winter, these pretty birds
small horn, an unmated male is making his presence — and will continue to come around backyard feeders, albeit not sing-
availability — known. ing as sweetly as they do in spring. Look to the ground and in

Harnett Life ~ Winter 2020 Page 21