Today I carried a large cup of sunflower seeds to the platform feeder. There were several Pine Siskins on the thistle sock. I moved closer slowly until I was about 4 feet from them. I held out the cup of seed and waited. Within 30 seconds one siskin flew over and landed on the cup. Soon there were several more perching on the cup and on me. Here is one photo. You can see several others at my web site at http://www.pbase.com/mayhorn/feeding_by_hand_2012 Roger Mayhorn Compton Mt