Re: Chickadee feeding behavior

Hi,
This is just a habit of chickadees.  Nuthatches do a lot of same thing.
Sometimes a chickadee will stay on the feeder to eat it's seed but not very
often.  Most times, it'll go sit on a branch to break open the seed and eat
it.  Then it will come back for another one.  The cycle continues.
-- 
Tammie
Northern Ontario
49° 27.2 N... 85° 32.8  W
http://community.webshots.com/user/_tammie57
http://community.webshots.com/user/thache

"WD West" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> My wife and I are curious about the feeding behavior of chickadees vs.
> other birds.  Our feeders are frequented by Juncos, Stellars Jays,
> Quail, Doves, Chickadees, Grosbeaks and a variety of others.  All the
> birds except the Chickadees will stay at the feeder eating until
> disturbed.  The chickadees on the other hand, fly in, grab one seed
> and leave.  They're back time and again, but always for just one seed
> and gone. We were thinking maybe it is predator avoidance behavior but
> have read that Chickadees seem to be the most "tame" and the other
> small varieties would seem to have the same need to avoid predators.
> Any ideas?