﻿My Chickadee Family 7 



back of a piazza chair which stands in front of a window, evidently with the 

 intention of calling some one out. He still keeps up the habit, and, if no ope 

 happens to notice, will often flutter in front of the window to call attention, 

 or, if unsuccessful there, will try other windows. 



He seems to feel very much at home on my hand, and usually eats his 

 food there instead of carrying it away as the others mostly do. This bird 

 has been with me for two winters, at least. Last summer he left me about 

 the middle of May and returned some time in August; but this summer he 

 had evidently made up his mind to remain within reach of the food supply. 



A CHICKADEE FRIEND 



Early in the spring I noticed that he always came with another bird, 

 which I took to be his mate. She was a shy little thing, but learned to come 

 for a nut when thrown to her. Later in the season I have often seen him 

 carry a nut to her in the tree and then come back for another for himself. 



On May 19, I saw both birds picking wool from a blanket on the line, 

 but did not discover the nest, although I knew it was not far away. After 

 a time he commenced to carry food (I have not the exact date), but on 

 June 20 he appeared in the tree with six little ones. At first they showed no 

 fear of me, and, when they discovered the source of the food supply, one 

 promptly lighted on my head and another on my shoulder. Evidently such 

 conduct did not meet with the approval of the parent, for he chased them 

 most vigorously whenever they came near me. 



As they grew older, however, they got to be too many for him, and would 

 fairly mob the poor fellow whenever he appeared. At such times 1 suppose 

 he grew desperate and often fed them from my hand. 



I saw very little of the mother bird either at this time or later. The 



