The Incredible Black-Capped Chickadee

Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

1986

Abstract

nder bark, pine needles and even under shingles.</p><p id="fc95">Many other bird species will also cache food, including Blue Jays. It is fascinating that the birds not only remember where their food is stored, but also which hiding places have already been emptied.</p><p id="5705">Getting back to feeding birds from your hand, I remember my Grandfather telling me he fed Nuthatches peanuts from his hand as he walked across his driveway from the house to the garage. Must be it runs in the family. As a kid of 10 or 12, I remember hand feeding a Chickadee for the first time, as I was discovering what would become a lifetime hobby for me. Standing on a bucket, my hand resting on the flat roof of my homemade birdfeeder. It was a long time ago. Photo opportunity missed.</p><p id="8cd6">How many of you have been successful with this? I would love to hear your stories, and even better yet see any photos you may have.</p><div id="6be6" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/gardening-birding-and-outdoor-adventure"> <div> <div> <h2>Gardening, Birding, and Outdoor Adventure</h2> <div><h3>A community for vegetable and flower gardening enthusiasts, lovers and observers of birds, outdoor explorers and…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*8ofsFHXnongDq9qAj2tgNg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="ad70" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/starting-onions-and-leeks-indoors-e137b3e0e33a"> <div> <div> <h2>Starting Onions and Leeks Indoors</h2> <div><h3>Chinese Baby Napa Cabbage Planted Using Winter Sowing</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div>

Options

          <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*[email protected])"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><div id="c986" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/heirloom-tomato-review-a-series-1864298138af">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>Heirloom Tomato Review-A Series</h2>
            <div><h3>Brandywine-#3-One of My Grandmother’s Favorites</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*7_iF-mHSEKP6e3XX9gXM_Q.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><div id="94e0" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/bird-spotlight-hairy-woodpecker-8d0520662b1f">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>Bird Spotlight-Hairy Woodpecker</h2>
            <div><h3>Volume 4 In a Series</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*Nt6iEq02To4aEiKA7Jr8ZQ.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><div id="8bca" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-weather-geeks-story-the-winter-of-2020-2021-e62dc2e76274">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>A Weather Geek’s Story-The Winter of 2020–2021</h2>
            <div><h3>Once a Weather Geek Always a Weather Geek</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*4QBsRBT-Hi9hp_uN)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div></article></body>

With Patience They Will Eat From Your Hand

The ultimate for a birdwatcher is to get one of these tiny feathered beauties to sit in your hand and take a seed. It is such a thrill to have them place their tiny feet on your fingers. They are actually light as a feather. At that moment, they have placed their trust in you. Your tiny feathered friend. There is nothing like it. The ultimate experience for the birdwatcher.

Author Photo

The best time to attempt this is when the feeders are empty. Otherwise, they will most likely chose the feeder instead of your hand. The other day when I captured these photos, I went out to fill the feeder. There were 2 or 3 chickadees fluttering around in the lilac tree near the feeder. Waiting for me to fill it. Patiently. Eyeing the seeds.

Then I noticed some interesting behavior from one of the birds. It was rustling through some leaves near the base of the lilac. Too early for nesting season. Then the little guy emerged with a seed, and flew to a nearby branch to open it and enjoy the treat. Treasure found.

Author Photo

I have read that Chickadees will cache seeds in thousands of locations and remember where they are all located. I have never seen one retrieve a stored seed before. It was very interesting to watch. In this case the seed was under some leaves in in a crevice near the base of the tree. They also store seeds under bark, pine needles and even under shingles.

Many other bird species will also cache food, including Blue Jays. It is fascinating that the birds not only remember where their food is stored, but also which hiding places have already been emptied.

Getting back to feeding birds from your hand, I remember my Grandfather telling me he fed Nuthatches peanuts from his hand as he walked across his driveway from the house to the garage. Must be it runs in the family. As a kid of 10 or 12, I remember hand feeding a Chickadee for the first time, as I was discovering what would become a lifetime hobby for me. Standing on a bucket, my hand resting on the flat roof of my homemade birdfeeder. It was a long time ago. Photo opportunity missed.

How many of you have been successful with this? I would love to hear your stories, and even better yet see any photos you may have.