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Platte River Status: Common migrant and winter resident; uncommon and irregular nesting species.

Breeding Range: Rare and local nesting species primarily in the Platte River Valley.

Breeding Population: Population surveys in 1979-1980 revealed too few breeding birds to provide accurate estimates of the nesting population. Currently we estimate that no more than 10 pairs nest in the study area during any particular year.

Habitat: The mean breeding density in residential habitats was 0.2 pairs/km². During the nesting season, we found pine siskins exclusively in coniferous ornamental plantings (principally blue spruce) in residential areas. Nest sites in both North Platte and Grand Island were situated near deciduous woodlots and weedy field edges that could be used as foraging sites.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Wintering birds have benefited from the presence of weedy field edges and waste grain in agricultural fields used for foraging. Nesting pine siskins have benefited from the expansion of human habitation and the resultant establishment of ornamental plantings.

Nesting Data: Our evidence of confirmed nesting consists of nearly fledged young in 3 nests found during the first week of June 1979. We found a pair building a nest in a blue spruce tree in Grand Island on 2 May 1979. The 13 day incubation period (Bent 1968) would suggest that Platte River egg dates can be extended to about 25 May. Nebraska egg dates range from 29 March to 13 May (Johnsgard 1979). North Dakota nesting dates are from mid April to mid June (Stewart 1975). Rowe (1938) discovered an active pine siskin nest at Hastings, Adams County on 1 May 1938. Later, Jones (1939) reported at least two pine siskin nesting attempts in Hastings in 1939.