[EBB Sightings] Chickadees return

This morning while having breakfast, I heard a chipping sound outside which 
was different.  The adult Chestnut-backed Chickadees brought three 
fledglings into our patio and were feeding them from the seed and peanut 
feeders.  This was really exciting.

Rosita took a number of pictures of them.  The yellow gapes of the young 
were very obvious.  One of the fledglings landed just outside the window 
where I sat.  This was pretty cool.  We thought it was abandoned for a while 
when we no longer saw the parents.  Then a sibling was spotted in the little 
maple which holds their first home.  After a couple more minutes the two 
fledglings left.

The whole event was probably over in 6-7 minutes.  Rosita was so glad the 
parents brought the kids back so we could see them.   They might have been 
here earlier as we don't stare out the window all day long, but it was a 
wonderfully serendipitous time.  And while I'm not convinced the visit was 
for our benefit, I do appreciate that we have learned that the three have 
survived the first week out of the nest.

Hugh B. Harvey
Walnut Creek