Monday, January 10, 2011

Black-Capped Chickadees of the Vermilon River. A Post to My World Tuesday.







These photos were taken on the abandoned RR track, trail on the east side of the river where some dedicated birder has built numerous feeders deep in a secluded part of the bush. These guys feed there extensively. You can sit there in the snow and they sweep by your ear and generally pose for you although you have to be fast to catch them. On my last Chickadee post I posted some facts about these fellow's adaption to the winter. I wasn't going to do it again but rather than send you off to search through the blog, I'll repeat them.

1) Chickadees can remember where they stash their food for at least 28 days. That's better than my memory.
2)They reduce their temperature by 10-12 degrees C. at night to conserve energy.
3) They have a hierarchy based on aggressiveness in their flocks.
4) They have 15 calls to communicate in the flock.
5) Flocks are normally 4-12 birds composed of mates with some juveniles thrown in.
For more information see: http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=29.

A post to My World Tuesday @ http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

34 comments:

  1. Hi Bob; thanks for the great words.

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  2. Love the chickadees. You're right about them being fast--I am still trying to be faster with the camera!

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  3. They are cute and friendly, Hubby likes to tell of how one perched on his lip once.

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  4. I need either a faster camera, or faster reflexe to get good pictures of these. Mostly I just sit and watch and listen to them sing.

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  5. Hi EmptyNester, and they bob around when they're eating so you need a fast shutter speed.

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  6. Hi MarthaZ, but fancy a hierarcy based on agressiveness. Boom & I had better watch ourselves.

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  7. Hi VioletSky and it's a lot of fun to watch them.

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  8. Oh, yes, I remember reading that when you posted it before, but I had forgotten, so maybe now I'll remember. Wonderful memories they have, I wish I were that smart. And imagine their body temperatures dropping! Wow.
    I still love chickadees, they're so fat 'n sassy 'n cute!
    -- K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  9. Great series, Gary. They are darn quick little birds. Thanks for posted the facts. Learned something new! Wonder if these would apply to Carolina Chickadees as well?

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  10. I love how they will come and eat out of your hand. But then you can't take a photo and feed them at the same time (I choose to feed them!)

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  11. Enjoyed the photos and appreciate the link for extra info

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  12. Always a favorite at my feeder. Great series Gary. The fifth one looks like it's napping :)

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  13. what an adorable little cutie. thanks for the education.

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  14. Chickadees always cheer me up in the winter. As soon as I step outside to fill the feeder in the morning, the chickadees have passed the news on to each other, and other birds too. Thanks for the interesting info - lots of things I didn't know, flock hierarchy for example. You also have some nice photos.

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  15. Great post. I have often wondered how these small birds make it through a cold winter.

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  16. Great shots and thanks for the info. I am getting a better camera and looking forward to taking bird shots!

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  17. What a great post! I do love those little chickadees! They are so beautiful and your photos are terrific! Thanks for sharing! Hope you have a great week!

    Sylvia

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  18. What amazing birds. All your shots are just stunning!

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  19. Wow, I see that they are a lot smarter than I am. Fact #2 is very interesting. I did not know that. Well, I knew nothing about them:)
    Thanks for sharing, Gary.
    Yoshi

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  20. To KLD: Fat,sassy and smart, please!

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  21. I don't know about the carolinas Jean maybe?

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  22. To Lesley. They feed out of your hand, because the 200 lb boss chickadee is close by to keep them safe. Just kidding.

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  23. Hi Joe from Lake Penage. The links just provide extra info on how amazing these guys are.

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  24. To Karen. Maybe he is on the other post I said they feed their young a lot of times per hour. So maybe he is tired.

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  25. Hi Hilke. They sure are fun guys as well as entertaining.

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  26. To WCML: Be careful photography is additive and there is no known cure.

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  27. To Sylvia K. Thanks for your visit and have a grand week.

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  28. To Ladyfi: I don't know about stunning!

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  29. To Yoshi: Just think if you ever visit Canada, you'll be able to ID and discuss the wildlife.

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