Jan. 1903 I 
THE CONDOR 
15 
Notes on Pine Siskins. 
BY CHARI.RS W. BOWRES, TACOMA, WASH. 
T hese are about the most eccentric birds that make a continuous stay in or 
near Tacoma. They seem more or less abundant at all times, and can be 
^ .seen feeding anywhere that seeds can be found, from the vacant house-lots in 
the city up to timber-line on Mt. Rainier, and in all of the desolate river valleys that 
lead down from the mountain in different directions. The siskins are equallj^ 
abundant everywhere, and unlike other birds, may be seen in flocks of from ten to 
fifty or more, at any time of the year, in spring and summer, as well as in autumn 
and winter, but the flocks are usually larger in winter. 
When they begin or end the nesting season is an open question, and it is equal- 
ly doubtful whether each pair has more than one .set of eggs in a season or less than 
three. If a pair wants to nest, they leave the flock usually accompanied by two or 
three other pairs and build almost always in a fir. The nests are from ten to thirty 
feet up, probably often higher, but the birds do not frequent the very large timber 
much and are well out on the limb so that the nests can be reached only with a rope, or 
by cutting the branch. These trees are easily located, as all of the accompanying 
pairs pass most of their time in the tree containing the nest, chirping and twittering 
continuously. It is quite another proposition when it comes to locating the nest, 
especially when in large groves, as the structure is usually concealed by lower 
branches, or by moss when far up in the mountains. 
Nests were found at various dates: May 16, one egg ju.st hatching; May 21, 
young just hatched; May 22, three fresh eggs; August 14, three eggs fresh, and at 
inten^ening dates, at all .stages of incubation. Sets of one, three, and four were 
found, but three seems most common. 
It might be supposed that the several pairs lay in the same nest, but that above 
referred to, containing one egg, had three or four pairs superintending, and a nest 
containing four eggs was the only one seen that had only a single pair. 
If the bird is on the nest she will not flush tor sticks or stones thrown around 
her, or even a rope swinging against the twigs supporting the ne.st, and not usually 
till the collector has swung out within a foot or two of her. 
The nests are about four and one half inches by two inches externally, and one 
and three quarter inches by one inch internally. They are composed of whatever is 
easiest to find; externally of twigs, cedar bark, several kinds of moss, dead grass, fir 
and hair, plant down and sometimes fine roots; internally of fine moss and hair or 
fur from cats, rabbits, cows and horses. The eggs resemble those of chipping spar- 
rows, but are smaller and much lighter colored in every way, and apparently never 
have any black markings. The ground color is a delicate light green, with dots, 
blotches, streaks, and marblings of different shades of lavendar and brown, .some be- 
ing quite dark. Measurements average 67x49 inches with very little variation. 
The first and last nests were found in Tacoma so that altitude could not have 
had any effect. 
