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  • Bird Love, Pine Siskin Style.

    May
    19
    2009

    Pine Siskin male female bird couple photo by Leanne Wildermuth
    Sunday morning, I wandered out to my studio to have a peek out at my bird feeders, and I got the privilege of witnessing the most beautiful relationship between a pair of Pine Siskins (who are, as many of you know, new guests on my feeders).

    I rushed for my camera (5 steps away) and was able to capture their loving interaction and I am really excited to be able to share this with you! It warms my heart, and kinda makes me wish I were a bird.

    First, the initial photo above. When I first saw them, they were eating together on my thistle sock. I snapped a couple dozen photos of them here until I got one that had them both looking up at the same time (without a blur, even). The rest of my photos are less about quality and more about the story.

    Pine Siskin male female bird couple photo by Leanne Wildermuth
    After they left they left the thistle sock, they flew over to my patio table and hopped around together.

    Pine Siskin male female bird couple photo by Leanne Wildermuth
    They moved from the table to the chair, and I started to wonder what they were talking about out there that they both looked up at (whatever it was) at the same time. I love this shot, it gives them that “old married couple” look!

    Pine Siskin male female bird couple photo by Leanne Wildermuth
    Everywhere that one would go, the other quickly followed. They hopped around this planter for about 20 seconds before moving on.

    Pine Siskin male female bird couple photo by Leanne Wildermuth
    The male was first to go to the next destination (there’s a bit of yellow in him, he’s on the left). The female quickly followed, and they gained balance and interacted for a few seconds.

    Pine Siskin male female bird couple photo by Leanne Wildermuth
    Next stop, the next planter in the row. Again, with the “you go, I’ll follow” relationship. They stayed close to each other, that’s for sure!

    Pine Siskin male female bird couple photo by Leanne Wildermuth
    Back to the table, I caught several shots of them hopping around the table and just loved their reflection on the pebbled glass. They picked at the bud that fell from our maple tree.

    Pine Siskin male female bird couple photo by Leanne Wildermuth
    They went over to our little fire pit, where they hopped around on the domed lid and picked at more buds and things that were stuck in the screen.

    I was in “awwwwe” the whole time, of course – this all took place within just a minute, maybe two. I’m not sure if they were just looking for bits and morsels to eat, or maybe looking for nesting material – whatever the case, this couple is really amazing and it was so interesting to watch them interact with each other!

    This last set of photos is what brought a tear to my eye. They hopped down from the lid of my fire pit, and met on the rim.

    Pine Siskin male female bird couple photo by Leanne Wildermuth
    And then they kissed.
    Pine Siskin male female bird couple photo by Leanne Wildermuth
    They both tilted their little heads to the right, opened their beaks ever so slightly, and kissed. They didn’t exchange anything, there were no supplies in their beaks that I could see, it was just this cute, intimate little moment between boy and girl bird, and OMG! Do you have a tissue?! *blows*

    Pine Siskin male female bird couple photo by Leanne Wildermuth
    These last three photos were taken in burst mode, and though I missed their beaks actually connecting, you can still feel the love. Bird love. Pine Siskin style.

    Welcome to my yard.

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    {14 Comments}

    1

    what great shots! i can’t believe how close they get, we rarely have birds that land on our deck.

    5.19.2009 @ 8:38 am
    2
    Paige said,

    Those birds are just too cute! How great to have gotten so many great pictures.

    5.19.2009 @ 9:02 am
    3
    Renee said,

    :clapping:
    too cute! I bet you find a nest in your yard soon.

    5.19.2009 @ 9:37 am
    4
    Clara said,

    aaawww..how cute is that?

    5.19.2009 @ 10:06 am
    5
    Pam said,

    Awwwwww!!!!! They kissed! How sweet! :love:

    5.19.2009 @ 11:07 am
    6
    Karen M. said,

    Oooh, these birds are gorgeous. I just love their coloring and patterns.
    Leanne, I really enjoyed the narration…added such a nice touch to the photos! Thanks!

    5.19.2009 @ 11:47 am
    7
    Leanne said,

    @ BSTS – maybe it’s your big scary dog? We also have feeders within feet of our patio, so they take over the yard, basically.

    5.19.2009 @ 3:17 pm
    8
    Sarcasmom said,

    I’m a sucker for a good love story.

    5.19.2009 @ 7:33 pm
    9
    Marcia said,

    You are such the romantic. If you keep these photo stories up, Leanne, you will have us all stopping by to share the view!

    5.19.2009 @ 8:54 pm
    10
    Da Goddess said,

    Sweet!

    I love this “story”

    5.19.2009 @ 9:48 pm
    11
    Geekwif said,

    Oh, how sweet. Great photos!

    5.20.2009 @ 5:24 am
    12
    Leanne said,

    I’m glad you guys enjoyed them as much as I did! I have more birds to share … soon!

    5.20.2009 @ 9:52 am
    13
    Ruby said,

    :parrot: I loved your pictures we too have a lot of Pine Siskins feeding and they love the Niger seed. I came across your web because I was looking to find why there was a little sick one we often get one that is all fluffed up and he is kind of jerking and opening hyis beak and I`m wondering if he has crop mites . I feel so sorry for him but he is eating. Have you any ideas. I can get fairly close to him butthen he flies away. I wish I could help him.

    6.13.2009 @ 6:59 pm
    14
    Leanne said,

    Hi Ruby, welcome to my site – thanks for stopping by!

    I am very sorry to hear about your little sick Siskin. You might want to try Birdchick, she is much more the expert on bird care and issues like that. Here’s a link:

    http://birdchick.com/faq.html

    I hope that helps!!

    6.14.2009 @ 6:55 am

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