Last week, Chenango County resident and Chenango County Bird Club member Michael Foor-Pessin shared a chance bird irruption and sightings of the juvenile Pine Siskins. It has been two decades since Pine Siskin breeding has occurred in Chenango County. (Photo by Michael Foor-Pessin)

SOUTH OTSELIC — Life of a birder is filled with continual patience, binocular observations, quick glances and upon occasion, rare bird irruptions.

Last week, Chenango County resident and Chenango County Bird Club member Michael Foor-Pessin shared the chance irruption and his new sighting after 46 years of birding.

He said he has multiple feeders on his property that attract many species, including most recent birds, the juvenile Pine Siskins.

“It appears that the breeding range has shifted more south,” he said. “The juveniles are here every day, all day.”

Foor-Pessin explained that in New York, irruption breeding is when northern-wintering species move south when food becomes scarce and some birds will actually stay and breed.

He said the morning light was perfect to capture the yellow color of the Siskin. The juvenile will grow to be 4 1/2 to 5 inches tall and will be similar to a goldfinch in size and shape. They are a small billed finch and extremely streaky with yellow wing markings.

Pine Siskin’s can be spotted on the ground, clinging to the ends of conifer branches, feeding off the cones or at a feeder. Occasionally one may attempt the suet feeder.