Photo © 2005 Jim Jung and licensors. All rights reserved.

Chickadees

Being permanent residents of our area, Chickadees have a jump on more migratory species of birds and can therefore start their breeding cycle earlier. In any case these small, attractive birds are the first to begin advertising their availability by singing - which in our area begins in early to mid-February.

Chickadees are cavity nesters which means that they require mature trees (ones with holes and rotten wood) to nest in; so new subdivisions are usually devoid of these creatures. But they're also partial to birdhouses we provide so it's possible to entice these interesting and amusing birds to nest even in areas lacking trees. Chickadees eat insects, fruit and seeds and are one of the more common birds at winter bird feeders.

Formerly a species that lived in the mixed tree-grassland environment of the pre-settlement savanna - the strip of land where the forest and prairie met - Chickadees are one of a handful of species that have actually increased in numbers since our civilization's arrival on this continent.

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