Comments on: Local Expert

By: espyville bob

espyville bob — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:22:01 +0000

We always have black caped chickadees and tufted titmice at our back yard feeders. I like to hear the black caped chickadee call – “chick – a – dee – dee – dee” – over and over

By: Marcy C

Marcy C — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 13:38:39 +0000

I used to be all BCChickadees until the Carolinas hit the border of Indiana Co from Westmoreland…this was on my 50th birthday, 3 years ago in March. I knew I had Carolinas here by sight and sound…but I didn’t tell anyone until my birding mentor Margaret Higbee came and I will never forget her face when she stepped out of her van…it was what I hoped and it sure did make my day…a county record, yard bird and a milestone in my age…NOW because of this…I count them as Chickadees Species, since I don’t know if they are true species or hybrids…

I can hear the fee-bee call of the BC(usually in 2s) and the fee-bee-fee-bay (in 4s) call of the Carolina. (Thru the late winter, early spring usually). The calls are similar, but different…

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 11:51:17 +0000

Hmmm. Identifying chickadees around here is very difficult because we live on the chickadee border. Some people say that unless you get a DNA sample you really can't know! Here's why: http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/01/22/which-chickadee-are-you/

By: Kathy M

Kathy M — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 11:38:50 +0000

I heard a Carolina Chickadee yesterday in North Park. I usually hear Black capped. Is that because it is fall and they are moving around, or have I just been missing the call of the Carolina? “He said, she said” I have heard both in Sewickley Heights but in the North Hills seems like it is the Black capped. To me the Black capped says “He did it!” but Cheese burger is funnier!

By: barbara

barbara — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:52:59 +0000

Interesting! I will keep a lookout for the chickadees and their friends this winter — barbara

By: Bird Feeders

Bird Feeders — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:30:14 +0000

Great photograph! You make an excellent point here concerning mixed flocks. I never thought that it would be one species bringing in the others, your observations about the chickadees are very insightful. Your story prompted me to do a bit of research, and I found a very interesting paper that mentions some very cool observations about mixed flocks. Check it out, http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/wb/v15n02/p0081-p0084.pdf

By: kelly

kelly — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:41:41 +0000

i think it’s the carolina wrens ordering up tasty bites.
cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheese!

By: Terri

Terri — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:21:29 +0000

These days I’m hearing so many calls for “CHEESE-burgers!” that I feel like I’m living at McDonald’s.

By: kelly

kelly — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:06:44 +0000

during my first fall season of birding i would hear and see many chickadees and quickly dismiss the sightings as “just another chickadee” as i was anxious to see and identify birds i hadn’t yet seen. later in the season, i figured out the mixed flock deal and was overjoyed to hear and see chickadees as there were always tagger-on’s. of course now i always enjoy the little buggers at any time of the year. whenever i hear one i say, “hi chickie”. anyone else talk to birds?

By: Jennie

Jennie — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:00:46 +0000

Very interesting. The black capped chickadees and tufted titmice typically feed together in my back yard. I’ll have to pay more attention to who joins their little groups. Thanks, Kate!