Chickadees are usually seen in pairs or small groups in the early Spring until they disband to begin nesting. The nest will consists of feathers, grass, and plant down placed in a small cavity or birdhouse. The female will lay 6-8 white eggs, lightly speckled with brown. When nesting is over and the young are on the wing, chickadees will form small flocks of 8 or a dozen birds which will roost and forage together until the next spring.
Chickadees dine primarily on insects, seeds and berries. These active and agile little birds can be seen hanging upside down from twigs or at your feeder. Pine seeds are an important natural vegetable food along with the seeds and nuts of hemlock, birch, walnut, ragweed and sunflower. Chickadees enjoy the berries of poison ivy, blueberry, bayberry, and serviceberry.
This beautiful chickadee spends its whole day eating from my bird feeders, spring, summer, winter and fall. |
