Birds Nesting – Birdhouses for Favorite Birds

First off I would like to say to my readers that I am sorry I’ve been building birdhouses, shooting photography, and doing shows of my craft instead of sitting down to blog. And now starting a new website on ETSY for my photo shots. So take a gander at www.etsy.com/shop/MichelesPhotography for Fine Art Photography by Michele.

Birds in My Backyard:

Spring time is amazing for watching these little feathered creatures the Black Capped Chickadee or Mountain Chickadee searching for the perfect place to start a family.  I watched these two little chickadee birds investigating my backyard birdhouses that I’ve mounted on the oak tree. I’m able to view all the activity from my kitchen window, while being able to get some fantastic shots of their behavior.

“Which One Should I Choose?”

First the chickadees fly from one house to the next, just like we would if looking for Real Estate property. They go inside each birdhouseseveral times while singing their off key song

“This One is Fully Furnished!”

chick-a-dee-dee-dee to let their mate know that they’ve found a home that seems suitable. Now these two chickadee birds nested in the house on the right the year before, so the nest was still there. Of course! What would you do if you were looking and found that the house was fully furnished where nothing had to be done? Why create more work for yourself?

Mr. and Mrs. Chickadee started on their family right away, courting each other around the forest, fluttering branch to branch.  Periodically Mr. Chickadee would enter into the birdhouse poking his head out making a sweet shrill of a sound, while turning his head from side to side as if to do a dance.  Mr. Chickadee is now claiming this birdhouse as his territory for his new family with long time wife Mrs. Chickadee.

“Chick-A-Dee-Dee-Dee-Dee-Dee” Photo by Michele Orsini

It is a sweet courtship between the two chickadees. Tenderness is quite noticeable between the two of them. The male chickadee is in constant motion searching for food to feed to his mate, while the female sits patiently on her eggs. It’s a classic Father Knows Best scene of being a good provider.

“Love is Knowing You’re There When I Need You”. Photo by MicheleOrsini

NOTE: Chickadees Mate for Life. Unfortunately their life span is 2-1/2 years

Chickadees generally have one brood per season and nest in the hollowed out areas of rotted trees, or in natural cavities, and nesting boxes.Both the male and female create the nest by excavating a cavity and filling it with grass, hair, plant down, moss, and feathers. Females lay 6-8 brown-speckled white eggs and will brood nestlings up to 12 days after hatching, while gradually decreasing her amount of time with them. The male does most of the feeding until the female is done brooding, after which time they begin to share the feeding responsibility. Juvenile chickadees will generally fledge within 16 days but continue to be fed by parents for 2 to 4 weeks. (Article from Dr. Foster and Smith)

“I Sing My Song For You” Photo by Michele Orsini

Their pleasant disposition and confident demeanor toward humans make them a backyard favorite in most yards. In fact, wearing a red coat while filling your feeders in the winter often provides an open invitation for chickadees to feed right from your hand. (According to Dr. Foster and Smith) So with that said I will try this and get back with my results. It would thrill me if my readers would do the same and let me know.

This is an article I truely enjoyed from “Tails of Birding” that I would love to share with my readers.