( 298 ) 

 A SISKIN COLONY IN CO. TIPPKRAKV. 



BY 



C. J. CARROLL. 



A NUMBER of Siskins (Carduclis spi>ius), considerably more 

 than sixty pairs, breed in the conifers growing on some 

 elevated ground in south Tipperary. They do not favour 

 the denser parts, but prefer to nest beside " clearings " 

 near but not quite on the fringes of the woods : in trees 

 overlooking avenues or in somewhat open straggling planta- 

 tions. Scotch pines predominate, nevertheless the nests are 

 more frequently built in spruces, occasionally in larches. 

 They are usually from 40 to 60 feet up, towards the tip of a 

 lateral bough even 16 feet out, but I have seen them beside 

 the main stem of a spruce or only a few inches from it. As a 

 rule they are exceedingly difficult to see from the groimd. 

 The birds, hoAvever, betray the situation by flying straight 

 to the tree, alighting on the branch some distance from the 

 nest and then creeping along until they reach it. The female 

 does the building and carries all the materials, but the cock 

 is most devoted and accompanies her on each visit, selecting 

 a perch from which he can see her the whole time and 

 immediately she has finished they go off together. While 

 she is on the eggs he often sings in the same tree, always in 

 the one position with his breast towards her as if the outburst 

 were intended solely for her benefit. Siskins sing merrily 

 every day up to about 2 p.m., after which they remain 

 silent. 



A few sets of eggs are found at the end of April ; the 

 majority, however, are laid in May and some birds — not many 

 — have second broods in June or July. 



The young are fed by both parents, who seem to go long 

 distances in search of food. Indeed, during some violent 

 thunder showers in 1912 three broods at least were drowned 

 in their nests before the old birds could get back to save 

 them. 



By the winter the Siskins have all formed into little flocks, 

 and together with Redpolls they wander through the country 

 on the outskirts of their breeding territory. They do not 

 come in again until the spring. An exceptionally early 

 bird was back and singing on February 24th, but I have seen 

 them still flocked on March 9th, and many do not return 

 until the end of that month or later. I give below particulars 



