Ian & Tweeters,

Although Mt. Chickadee has not "officially" made it on the local Bainbridge
Island list, I can say with certainty that they have visited our Island. On
two separate occasions I have heard their distinctive (at least in my mind)
raspy, harsher chika dzee dzee call. Unfortunately both times I was unable
to locate the calling bird. Call me a purist , but I sure want to see them
before making them "official".

In this irruptive year, I think there is no question that Mt. Chickadees
have been crossing water. My brother Dan observed a flock at Point Wilson
that headed out over water a few weeks back. The Sullivan's reported a few
leaving Port Gamble and flying away over water. Another Kitsap County report
came from some Pine trees adjacent to the Kingston Ferry dock - likely two
birds that had to cross water.

Although the crossing water question is interesting, I think there are some
other questions related to this Mt. Chickadee invasion that are even more
interesting to ponder: 1) What has caused the lowland movement of Mountain
Chickadees in the first place? One would assume the food source would be the
problem - but what and why? 2) How long will they remain in the lowlands
before "retreating" back to higher elevation? I find it interesting that
some of the reports have been of birds in pure flocks and some have been
associating in mixed feeding flocks. I would be interested in hearing about
ones that have become regular visitors to feeders.

Brad Waggoner
Bainbridge Island, WA
mailto:wagtail at sounddsl.com