Thursday, March 12, 2009

Letter to my Pine Siskins



Dear Siskins,

While it's been enjoyable having the 30 of you over to visit, I think it is time for you to go. We've had some good times - I fill up the feeder several times in a day - and you empty it several times a day. You've been rambunctious pushing my little Chickadees off the feeders and you even squabble amongst yourselves. Still - I admire your ferociousness and find you cute. But it is time to go. I will see you next winter and be prepared with more thistle feeders. Don't let the bird feeder hit you in the butt on the way out.

Love your friend,

Shelley

31 comments:

Cindy said...

Will it work!?!?! hehehe!!

Anonymous said...

Overstayed their welcome, huh??!!

sandy said...

hahaha...and they are so darn cute..how could you let the door hit them on the way out.

Anonymous said...

Aww/lol!

Leedra said...

I think we are all feeling this way right now. Jimmy keeps asking why I keep filling the feeders. He says "they will just eat it all". LOL!

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Sit A Spell said...

Could I please borrow this letter and post it in my back yard?!? They are eating me out of house and home!

Even the name works...Shell

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Shelly: I have read some other complaints on these heavy feeders. They are a nice looking bird.

Lanny said...

giggle giggle snort giggle snort snort.

Funny this is the first year that I have not had my flock of thirty, I sorta missed them and was asking the two that have been here why no party this year.

But after reading this I do realize how much calmer it has been this winter without that crazy family moving in. Even the Stellar Jays don't get everyone's feathers ruffled this year. Like their all on birdy happy pills.

Anonymous said...

Give them my address. We'll throw an equinox party for them over here in WA.

Jayne said...

LOL Shelley... a very nicely worded letter. Boy, but they've been numerous this season.

Eve said...

Ha Ha Ha!!!

Tina said...

Yes, I think we are all tired of the flocking birds that are hitting our feeders. I took down three of my seed feeders as the black birds, grackles, starlings and some red wings empty it within a few hours of re-filling!!( I don't seem to be having the same problem with siskins) The only seed feeders that remain are the ones that close up due to the visitors weighing too much..like squirrels and large black birds!
I wish you a closing door on your siskins!! :)

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Cute!Have they responded to your letter?
Blessings,Ruth

Mary said...

LOL! You are the second blogger I've seen complaining about the siskins...they must be bad this year! Love you letter and hope they take the hint.

The Retired One said...

They are a lot cuter than the darn chipmunks who empty my feeders!
Does anyone out there have a source or ideas on a "chipmunk proof" bird feeder? We like to have feeders on our deck and ones that are easy to fill...but DARN those chipmunks!!!

Kim said...

LOL Shelley! I have been thinking the same thing w/ my juncos! I love them but want them to leave because once they do I know spring is closer!

Such an adorable photo of the siskin.

Peggy said...

And the thistle ain't cheap either, so Shelley does welcome tips!

MuseSwings said...

Hahahaha! Tell them to come down to Florida for a vacation.

Patsy said...

I know how you feel, I was thinking the same about our Squirrels but they will never go away.
Patsy

NCmountainwoman said...

We found that taking down the thistle feeders reduced the Pine Siskin numbers dramatically. They still come for the sunflower seeds, but not in such huge numbers.

In our area, some of the birds appear to be infected with salmonella. Wild Birds Unlimited is recommending that people remove any feeders that allow large gatherings of siskins at one time. That may reduce the number of infected birds. And, of course, to remove and sterilize all feeders and water if you find sick birds.

Anonymous said...

Yeah..the 40 some goldfinch out numbered them, but they are very fiesty....

Deborah Godin said...

I started laughing with the title even before the restr loaded up! You are so funny! and kind to siskins!!

Connie said...

Tough love you're practicing there, Shelley. Time for them to learn to fend for themselves! HA! :D

Dawn Fine said...

Ha...Best leave soon little Siskins...
I have never experienced the siskin explosion that you all are having...but it sounds like it was fun...up until now...tee hee..

mj said...

hahaha....very cute...

troutbirder said...

Oh my. Is cabin fever waiting for spring making us all a little edgy. Too bad they wont eat the cheaper brand

Unknown said...

Nice post, I hope they got the message. For the image it looks like they are kind of cross with you !!!

Anonymous said...

I don't think we have these here but we have something that looks like your siskin.

I know what you mean about the quantity of food some of these birds who are passing through eat.

I just brought my Coopers Hawk blog back. Blogger had saved the name for me. I have hundreds of photos yet to publish. If you are interested in hawks you are welcome to have a look.

http://coopershawk.blogspot.com/

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Guess what, Shelley??? I put my feeders TOTALLY away for a week while we were gone. As soon as I put them out today--those pesky siskins were waiting. I was hoping they were GONE... Darn those cute little things...

Hugs,
Betsy

Heather said...

Wow, giving them their walking papers, eh? I don't mind their presence at my feeders so much, but they sure are NOISY! Sometimes I don't realize how noisy until they all shut up for a minute... but then they just start right back up!

Dave's Bird Watching Blog said...

Just saw this...very fun! I love the "hit you in the butt on the way out" comment!