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Grandfather Journal

Naturalist Jesse Pope shared this photograph he took of a male Red Crossbill feeding on the thistle feeders at the Nature Museum restaurant July 6th. Jesse says he has never seen them on our feeders before. Usually if you see them here it will be in the among the red spruce above the 5,000 foot elevation, much like the Pine Siskins that were also on the feeders the same morning.

The Red Crossbill is a nomadic species native to the northern climates. Grandfather is near the southern limit of their range. They are found in coniferous forests and the unique crossed bill is a tool they use for prying seeds from the cones. (Jesse Pope photo)

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