Subject: Chickadees
Date: Sep 21 23:53:40 1995
From: Burton Guttman - guttmanb at elwha.evergreen.edu



Maybe tweeters is slow because we're all suffering from post-Fork-tail
depression and sadness about the end of summer. [insert nostalgic song
about autumn here] I have a question that may liven things up a little.

Michael Smith writes about Chestnut-backed Chickadees in the yard, in a
mixed flock with Black-capped Chickadees, and then comments, "the
Chestnut-backeds and the Kinglets (and the Sharpie) are certainly
indicative of the coming of winter, and I'm glad they're back."

But I don't associate the Chestnut-backs particularly with winter. As I
sit in my office, looking out on the Douglas-firs, I often see chickadees,
and I seem to see about equal numbers of both species all through the
year. As I stood in my yard one day in August, it was suddenly invaded by
a flock of chickadees and other birds, and many of them were
Chestnut-backed. I haven't been making notes about all these birds, but
do I have a totally wrong impression? What do other folks see?

Burt Guttman guttmanb at elwha.evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College Voice: 360-866-6000, x. 6755
Olympia, WA 98505 FAX: 360-866-6794