Chickadees

Chickadees who sing lower notes may have the breeding advantage, but I also know they will change pitch if ambient noise makes their songs hard to hear.

Now the prairie is home to flowers that attract pollinators and butterflies; nesting boxes that attract birds such as tree swallows, wrens and chickadees; and informational signs to teach visitors about the plants.

We do have some year-round species like chickadees, nuthatches and titmice that primarily eat insects in the summer but switch their diet to seeds to get through the winter.

Backyard birds such as chickadees and nuthatches and open country species such as prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse fall into the first of these categories.

Notice several chickadees travel together and often travel in association with other species.

The birdfeeder has been active lately with blue jays, chickadees, nuthatches and a couple woodpeckers.

Ingrid and Krystal spent an hour there, watching warblers and chickadees land and take off again.

Most species that I encountered were not a surprise: Black-capped chickadees, downy woodpeckers, white-breasted nuthatches, black-billed magpies, and a few others.

Marge Bute of Alden asked why chickadees don’t feed in a group?

Turned out the pair were mountain chickadees…but when the male was away, a black-capped suitor came to call upon the Missus.