Black-capped Chickadee :: In Our Backyard

A few days ago, the temperatures were a little warmer on Prince Edward Island. Warmer meant around 2 degrees Celsius. It was a beautiful day, after many colder days! It was sunny and we were able to enjoy spending more time outside, longer than just a few minutes. 

Celeste and I went in our backyard and noticed small birds flying around our trees. I grabbed my camera and captured a few photos of the chickadees. We listened to their calls. You can hear a recording here (under calls) at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 

This little bird is amazing! I read the entry in the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock  about the Black-capped Chickadees. They stay up here in North America all winter, finding food by picking at the tree trunks for insect eggs. I like this passage from the book so much, I am sharing it with you:

"When the chickadee is prospecting for eggs, it first looks the twig over from above and then hangs head down and inspects it from below; it is a thorough worker and doesn't intend to overlook anything whatever; and however busily it is hunting, it always finds time for singing; whether on the wing or perched upon a twig or hanging from it like an acrobat, head down, it sends forth its happy "chickadeedee" to assure us that this world is all right and good enough for anybody." 

You can read the Handbook of Nature Study free online here. 

This post is part of the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival hosted by Barb at Handbook of Nature Study. If you haven't visited her blog yet, I highly recommend it! I have been inspired by her for several years.