I was interested to read Craig's post about the one-legged Black-capped
Chickadee. A few weeks ago we had a one-legged Chestnut-backed Chickadee at
our feeders. I first spotted it when it was trying to feed from the
upside-down suet feeder. It was hanging by its one leg, swinging and
fluttering. It gave that up and went to the "clinger" sunflower feeder.
Clinging with its one foot, it hung at a slant and could barely get its head
over the rim, but it managed to grab a seed and take it to a branch. It made
several forays. In between, it would sit quietly on the branch for much
longer periods than its two-legged cohorts. But it seemed to be in good
health.

This A.M. at the Big Beaver Pond in the Anacortes Community Forestlands
(Little Cranberry Lake segment), the recent arrivals -- several dozen
Ring-necked Ducks and a few American Wigeons -- have been joined by two
female Buffleheads, and a male Hooded Merganser made a dramatic entrance,
splashing down and swimming about with his crest fully displayed. This pond
is worth checking for ducks year-round, with Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers,
and Mallards breeding, and many migrants wintering and passing through. Last
spring, there was a period of about a week with seven duck species on view.
(And early or late in the day, you might even see a Mink...)

Kristi Hein
Anacortes
mailto: khc, picturesandwords, dot, com