THE CHICKADEE 



Throughout the winter, bands of small birds visit the orchards 

 and ornamental trees of every village and farm, gleaning dormant 

 insects and their eggs from the twigs and boughs. The best known 

 member and the leader, apparently, of the company is the Chickadee. 

 There are generally about half a dozen of these birds together, pos- 

 sibly the parents and young of the preceding summer. The whole 

 company are rarely in sight at any one time; some are in one tree, 

 some are flying to the next, one perhaps is on the ground. There 

 is a constant interchange of lisping call-notes, which break into 

 excited gurgles, and the familiar tee, dee, dee, dee, when something 

 excites their alarm or curiosity. It is not hard to disturb their 

 composure; they come more easily than almost any other bird to 

 the squeaking sound that bird students make to attract the attention 

 of birds. One fluffy head after another pitches into the tree nearest 

 the performer; then, by short stages, the boldest comes nearer to 

 the strange sight and sound, often within arm's length. When their 

 curiosity is appeased, they return to their examination of the twigs 

 and branches, or, if startled by a sudden movement, they dive into 

 the nearest cover. 



Their positions when feeding on slender twigs are extremely 

 graceful, and their agility surprising. When gathering sunflower 

 seeds, of which they are extremely fond, they cling to the under 

 surface of the drooping head and pick till they loosen the seed. 

 Then they fly with it to a branch and hammer it open. A favorite 

 winter food is the berry of the poison ivy. By tying a bone or 



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