Re: Chickadee feeding behavior

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] says...
> 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?
> 
Watch the way a chickadee opens a sunflower seed. Many feeders don't 
accomodate that technique very well. Given the right feeder, they may 
well hang out there to eat. I've had them open seeds using my finger for 
a backstop. It's surprising how much this can hurt!

 They may well be caching food at this time of the year though, hence 
the many round trips. Nuthatches display the same pattern too, it's not 
just chickadees that do this. Jays around here generally prefer a 
different backstop than my feeders as well. A finch can just munch like 
a pig until every seed is gone, as you've undoubtedly noticed.Their 
bills are perfectly adapted for this.


                   .cE