Chicadee's are really amazing little birds. I have put out bird feeders all my life and enjoyed casually watching the birds. Prior to last November I simply lumped all Chicadee's into one category in the same way most people do Sparrows until one day I realized that some Chickadees had a white belly while others had a yellowish brown patch on their flanks below the wings. Out of curiosity I looked in a bird book and learned that I was seeing both Black Capped Chickadee's and Carolina Chickadees. At the time I had 5 Pentax 35mm SLR's and an assortment of 11 lenses, but being on fixed income I couldn't afford more that 10 ot 12 rolls of film a month. In mid October I happened to find a used Pentax *ist DL DSLR body on Craigslist for $200, It had no lenses but all the Pentax k mount lenses that I had for my film cameras were compatible with it. Suddenly film and processing cost was no longer an issue and I began shooting upwards of 500 shots a day. While the outdoor temps were still relatively mild I put the camera on a tripod about 20 feet from the bird feeder then I say motionless in a lawn chair and triggered the camera by means of an external shutter release cable, which I held concealed in my pocket. The first week or so that I did that the Chickadees seemed to get bolder and bolder as they flew towards me, sometimes landing on weed tops about 2 feet from my chair. Then they started landing on my camera and one time a bird actually landed on my head while I sat there. I figured by that time the chickadee's were accustomed to my presence so I decided to take it to the next step. I have to fill my feeder at least twice a day and every time I approach to fill it all the birds fly away. I noticed that while the other birds seemed to fly off, the Chicadee's were only going up on low limbs in the tree about 20ft away and I could hear them chirping back and forth to each other, so I thought, I wonder what would happen if I talk to them? Now every time I approach the feeder I call out in a low voice, Chick a dee dee dee, Chick a dee dee dee, and they seem to call right back and as I am pouring the seed in the feeder they were coming closer and closer. Now some of them came right down and sit on the feeder while I am still pouring the seed. I use a two quart plastic pitcher to carry the seed and on more than one occasion I have had Chickadees land on the pitcher and grab a seed before I get a chance to pour it. I can stand right beside the feeder for 10 or 15 minutes and the Chickadees come and go without the least bit of concern about me. One of my birds books says that Chickadees can be tamed and they have a photo of a Chickadee eating seed right out of a gays hand, That is currently my goal, to feed one out of my hand. While doing some further research in my bird books I ran across a couple very interesting facts. Back in the late 1800's people trapped Chickadees and sold them as cage bird pets. I think the fact that I found singularly most remarkable was how they survive in winter. The normal body temperature of a bird is about 100deg F but in order to conserve energy while sleeping Chickadees can actually lower their body temperature 50 deg F.

LOL Tsuga. I think with the warmer weather we were having I was getting overzealous. I even started painting my garage, yet to be finished. I've been feeding suet all winter. In the past month, I've seen my first downy woodpecker as mentioned earlier, and another unidentified bird...same size as a sparrow, almost looks like a sparrow at a distance, but a closer look shows a muted red on its head and neck region, and when they spread their wings you can see a red spot on their back. Not bright red like a cardinal, a soft muted red. I've never seen them before. In one glance, I have robins, cardinals, juncos, the unidentified bird, chickadees, and usual sparrows in my yard. Tons of activity. They seem to be enjoying the new evergreen thuja green giant I planted last year too. I just purchased some black oil sunflower last night, have to figure out where I'm going to put it. I read the seeds inhibit plant growth.

Really? My 8 year old was trying to train them but she probably moves around too much or is too noisy and they all clear when we are out. We have a trail (driving distance) where the chickadees land on you. They are very cute. Do you have paths nearby where such an occurance happens and they are trained? Are they really just naturally friendly? I think I will pick up some unsalted peanuts for her to take out this week since we have so many at our feeder.

I can't believe I haven't commented...musta been one of those times that the forum was acting funny and not letting me post....ever get that? Anyhoo, LOVE this! I just love GOG and this one is super!!! Looks so good all grouted. I am such a fan of the grouting GOG! I am helping a freind make his first GOG, it is gonna be a enneagram. He has this awesome round frame! I look forward to seeing another GOG from you!