I checked the Chickadees nest box yesterday and it's still home to 5 little speckled eggs. The chickadees' comings and goings are hard for me to follow as their box is at the front of the house and not visible from my kitchen window where I observe most of the bird activity in my back yard. But after seeing the eggs in the box I sat and watched for a while and sure enough a little Chickadee flew back to continue the incubation. The incubation period for Chickadees is 12-13 days - about the same time as Bluebirds so I may have babies in both boxes about the same time.
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| Lady Blue still incubating her eggs |
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| Chickadee |
I thought I'd post a photograph of a Chickadee while waiting for the eggs to hatch but don't have many to choose from - probably because they flit and fly so quickly. But I did find these taken during the ice storm in February, and coincidentally, a photo of both a chickadee and bluebird on the same feeder ................
I wonder if these two are part of the nesting pairs today :
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| Chickadee and Bluebird |
When I first became interested in the amazing little Bluebirds I read many times that they seldom come to feeders (except for those with mealworms) so this winter, during a sudden onset ice storm, I was surprised to see them enjoying the nuts and berries in the mixed bird food.......and also the peanut suet !
