Getting in on the Siskins nesting discussion... The winter of 1996-7 apparently had the combination of being harsh, long, and without suitable food supply for winter finches. For this apparent reason, White-winged Crossbill and Pine Siskin remained in at least one location in southwest MN - Memorial Cemetery at Lake Benton (Lincoln County) - throughout the winter and long enough into spring when their biological clocks started ticking.
At least on pair of the 7 individual White-winged Crossbill seen throughout the seasons at this location sucessfully fledged three young. (This article appeared in the Loon notes of interest, though I'm not sure which issue) In addition, at least one Pine Siskin was pair was observed on a nest, though no the height of the nest prevented further investigation, and no fledge were observed at this site during subsequent visits. In this situation, the cemetery obviously supplied the right combination of elements to to allow these birds to reply to their natural instincts. No doubt this has happened long before we birders started keeping track of such events, and most likely will happen again (even in southern Minnesota) if the right combination of factors again present themselves to such species. Roger Schroeder
