Deere Ware Bb OsN Tt By el ig isk N 7 
Black-capped Chickadees form fairly small wandering bands except 
during the breeding season. The bird evidently appeals to other birds as 
well as human beings. since kinglets, nuthatches, Downy Woodpeckers, 
and migrating warblers are often found in its company. Once, to my de- 
light, I discovered a Blue-headed Vireo in a chickadee group. 
Chickadees nest in cavities in rotten stumps or old fence posts within 
four or five feet of the ground (or ten to fifteen, says Sprunt in Florida 
Bird Life). It seems probable that the height of the nest varies with the 
range. The chickadee is not known to penetrate wood, but it excavates 
hollows in rotten stumps, stubs, or decaying trees. Both sexes work at 
hewing out and lining the cavity. The average nest is four inches deep, 
with a soft. matted bed of shredded inner bark, green moss, plant down, 
and, when available, bits of cotton, rabbit fur, and feathers. This bird 
carries the tell-tale chips from its nest to a safe distance and scatters them. 
Probably six or seven eggs is the average number, but up to nine or 
ten have been reported. The eggs are white, lightly or sometimes heavily 
speckled with reddish-brown spots. When annoyed by close prolonged 
observation of her nest. the incubating female sometimes draws in her 
breath until she perceptibly swells and then expels the air with a quick, 
explosive sound like an escaping jet of steam. 
No matter what the weather or time of year, the Black-capped Chicka- 
dee searches energetically for its insect food. Sprunt tells’ us that its 
diet consists of 72% animal matter and 28% vegetable matter. One-half 
of the animal intake is moths and caterpillars. Spiders are eaten at all 
times of the year. In winter the cotton-boll weevil, plant lice, and insect 
eggs are consumed. Seeds of the poison ivy form a considerable portion 
of its vegetable diet, which includes other seeds, berries, and wild fruits. 
The ability of this small bird to withstand cold and severe weather 
is incredible. It breeds from coast to coast across the northern two-thirds 
of the’ United States and into Canada and Alaska. Most authorities list 
it as “resident where found. Some individuals or some populations may 
be essentially resident while others may migrate” (Sprunt). The chickadee 
is sometimes called the bird acrobat; it frequently hangs upside down on a 
limb or cone when feeding and gets into all kinds of positions. It is one 
of the most abundant of winter birds, visiting food trays freely. 
Hole-nesting birds generally roost at night in cavities, often the one 
used for nesting or an extra one built by the male. Chickadees sometimes 
roost together, perhaps a whole flock in one hole if it is large enough. 
Versatile and indefatigable in its feeding habits, the Black-capped Chicka- 
dee renders invaluable service to agriculture and to forestry. 
927 Brummel Street, Evanston, Illinois 
WHISTLING SWANS SIGHTED 
By John O’ Donnell 
On the morning of March 26, 1964, we positively identified two Whistling 
Swans on the lake of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary near Mundelein, 
llinois. There had been a devastating sleet and snow storm during the 
preceding night, and probably the swans were forced down by the severe 
weather. We would like to know whether any other sightings of these un- 
common birds were reported from Northern Illinois or the Chicago area 
on this week-end. 
St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, Ill. 
