Our Little Chickadees

On my blog I've had several different 'contests' for my bird favorites... from "Best Dressed" to "Most Cheerful" to "Most Brilliant".  However, I think if I had to pick one bird as my overall favorite, it would be our Chickadees.

Our Chickadees are Black-capped Chickadees.  I know that because in the area where we live, that's the species we have-- not because I'm good enough to be able to tell a Black-capped Chickadee from a Carolina Chickadee!  While I have had a close relationship with Chickadees over the years, I think it would be hard for me to differentiate a Carolina Chickadee's "smaller head and shorter tail".

Even though Chickadees are my favorite birds, I don't have too many photos of them.  They are usually constantly on the move, which makes them a hard subject to photograph.  So when I recently saw the one in the picture above, sitting very still... I grabbed my camera.  Usually when there is a bird sitting motionless near our feeders, it means there is a predator nearby.  Typically a hawk.  So as I photographed this little Chickadee I also prayed that it wouldn't become a meal while I clicked away with my camera!  

The lone Chickadee was the only bird anywhere around the feeders.  Even though a Chickadee wouldn't make a very big meal for a hawk (they only weigh from .3 to .5 ounces) it would be better than nothing!

 After it had been sitting perfectly still for awhile (and in a rather uncomfortable-looking position I might add), the Chickadee got brave enough to start looking around.

Apparently the coast was clear, and eventually it flew down to the feeder and got a sunflower seed.  Phew!!!

As I said, I've had a close relationship with Chickadees over the years.  Here's an old photo of me feeding one from my hand way back in 1978:

And it's a family thing.... as the following photos show, we've had 3 generations who have enjoyed doing this.  Here's an old photo of my mom with a Chickadee on her gloved hand:

and both of my daughters have done it as well...

A Chickadee in hand and 2 more waiting in line to get a seed (the feeders have to be empty for them to come to you!)

We haven't done that in a long time, but it is a lot of fun.  

Another fun thing about Chickadees is the different sounds they make.  From the familiar "chick-a-dee-dee" to "fee-bee" to various scolding sounds and gargle noises, they are quite the little vocalists.  I saved an article back in 2006 from the Penn Lines magazine about Chickadee language: 

It says they can make at least 13 different 'gargles' and some can do more than 30!  They use the sounds to communicate with each other (or scold people when the feeders are empty!).  I was amazed to even find a Chickadee/English 'Dictionary' online!  Yep, you can click on that link if you want to know how a Chickadee says, "Hiya, big boy. How's about giving me a lil' ol' bug?"

Back to my chickadee, let's see what it's saying....

According to the Penn Lines article, "seet" means "there's a flying predator nearby".  Thanks for giving out the warning, little Chickadee!
 

Snow, Shadows, Snowshoes, and Swinging with Ruby

Bassets are at a bit of a disadvantage when the snow gets deep.  When Ruby was younger, she loved playing in it anyway.  She would leap...

and even make her own way thru the deep snow.

However, just like for some of the rest of us-- as we've gotten older, playing in the snow doesn't hold quite as much appeal.

Now, she mostly likes to keep to the paths when she visits my house.  On our walk this morning, we went along the path thru the yard to the woodshed.

The shed is getting rather empty.  You can see light thru the last row of firewood. Spring better come soon!

Ruby explores the areas that have been plowed or snowblown, but she keeps out of the deep snow.  Then she finds some tracks that she wants to follow.

Besides a man in snowshoes, you can see that a deer has also passed this way.  Ruby's nose is already on the scent!

And, she's off!

Interesting to note that a basset hound is about the same length as a snowshoe! 

I didn't notice the shadows Ruby was making until later when I saw them in the photos.  I love the shadow of her tail in this one:

Now, here's a short video to show you how graceful Ruby was walking thru the snowshoe tracks:

As you can see by the end of the video, I can't claim to be very graceful either!

By the way, can you figure out the story of the tracks we were following?

A certain man walked out on snowshoes, had a snowshoe binding break, then walked back in his boots.  He's tough, it was okay!

Though he didn't take a very straight path as he went up the hill...

Meanwhile, Ruby is taking me around the driveway now.  I let her wander.  It's a beautiful morning and I'm in no hurry (which is a good thing whenever you are walking with a basset hound).

Ruby wants to be sure you notice how long the shadows of her back legs are in that photo!

Now, she's getting tired.  The snow is just the right depth for a basset hound pillow.

"If you are tired, Ruby, let's go back inside.  We have cooking to do for your Mom's birthday dinner".  But as we head back to the house, she runs up on the back porch and tries to jump up on the swing.  Everything makes it except for her back legs.  We haven't been on the swing since last fall.  Hey, it's a nice day so I help her get her legs up the rest of the way and I sit down for awhile, too.

 "Great idea, Ruby!  Icicles are dripping and birds are singing... maybe Spring is on the way!"

Snowshoe Haiku

Remember how hot it was last summer?  Just barely, I know.  Last July I wrote a post called "Heat Wave Haiku" and now I think it's time for a cold weather version.  Just as the heat wave last summer tried our patience, this cold and snowy winter seems to go on and on.  So, here's my hibernation haiku story...

Waking up to snow...
If only I was a bear,
I would keep sleeping 

Or a small chipmunk
Curled up and cozy under
my snowy blanket

Instead I’ll become
a snowshoe hare though I’m not
nearly as graceful

Colorless morning
No sunshine, no shadows though
patterns delight me

Lonely dock waiting
blue and green kayaks slumber
away in our garage

Deer here before me
walked in my previous path
now I’ll follow his

Toes feeling nippy
even so I am lucky
a warm home awaits me

Deer keeps on walking
Chipmunk and bear still sleeping
Spring are you coming?

Please hurry!

"My Favorite Trees"

Sung to the tune of “My Favorite Things” (with apologies if you get it stuck in your head!)

Graceful old elm and a hound in the snow

Beech in the woods with its’ leaves still aglow

Snow covered hemlock towering above

These are a few of the trees that I love! 

Even with no basset, this elm is delightful

White Pine  and willow are a beautiful eyeful

Gnarly wild apple’s red fruit makes me sing--

These are a few of my favorite things!

Winter reveals what summer leaves hide away

Fun to see but also thankful it won’t stay this way

Old beech branches high in the breeze

These are a few of my favorite trees!
 
When the snow bites,
When the wind howls,
When I’m feeling cold--
I simply remember my favorite trees,
And then I don’t feel.... so froze!


Chilly sunrises that gleam thru the tree branches

Fabulous sunsets warmup my chances

To forget winter and smile thru the cold
Even so, this winter-- it IS getting old!
 
When the snow bites,
When the wind howls,
When I’m feeling cold--
I simply remember my favorite trees,
And then I don’t feel... so froze!

PS- And it would be nice to be where palm trees grow!

A scene from my trip to Haiti

Winter Gardening

A major winter storm is forecast for our area.  They are predicting lots of snow.  So, of course, there are things to do to prepare!  Stock up on milk and bread.... beat the storm!  I was racing to beat the storm this afternoon, too.  But I was not at the store, I was out in the woods, collecting moss.  That's right, moss!

Remember when we had a couple of 45 degree days back in January?  As I was walking in our woods on one of those days, I was admiring the beautiful green mosses.  I thought it would be nice to make a terrarium but I didn't have a good container.  Well, today while I was shopping, I found one. 

Collecting moss and a few other things this afternoon for my 'winter garden' was slightly challenging.  It's really easier to make one when the ground is not frozen!  

But I was able to brush aside the snow to get some partridgeberry and club moss.

Normally I would dig up small plants for a terrarium, but since the ground was frozen, I decided to improvise and clip off a few things.  I snipped the club moss and some hemlock sprigs with scissors.  I also grabbed some small rocks and pieces of wood.

This photo shows all the things I used -- my container, some gravel, soil-less potting mix, charcoal, and all the things I had collected from the woods.  Oh, and a tiny plastic deer!

I started with about an inch of gravel for drainage, and a few small pieces of charcoal to keep it smelling sweet.

Then some 'soil' which I mounded a bit in the center.  The moss came next, lightly pressed on the soil.

I added some rocks and stuck the club moss stems and a piece of hemlock down in the soil, and then put my little deer in place.

Now I feel like I'm ready for the snowstorm!  I have my own tiny green woods to enjoy while the snow flies outside.

I'm happy with how it turned out.  It will definitely help me get thru the rest of winter!