Boreal chickadees are as shy as their black-capped cousins are friendly. They tend to stay in the inner branches of the spruce trees and seldom linger long enough to allow themselves to be photographed. However, last evening a young one crashed into the front window, providing an opportunity for a close encounter of the sweetest kind.
Though it appeared to be gasping for breath when I first picked it off the ground, it eventually recovered enough for me to place it in a safe spot where its parents (but not local cats or birds of prey) could easily find it.
The cement top of the septic cover, which is surrounded by rhododendron bushes, proved a perfect place to set it down. When I checked it later, the little creature was already moving its head around and looking more alert. Since it had no outward sign of injury, I left it to God’s care. I figured He’d be up all night anyhow 🙂
By early morning it was gone. The window is still a concern, but I’ve since discovered that keeping the patterned curtains closed will help deter other birds from crashing into the glass.
This morning I saw two adult Boreal chickadees flitting and chirping among the spruce trees. Could they have been the parents returning to say everything was fine with their little one?
Text and photographs copyright Amy-Lynn Bell 2013
Wonderful story of hope and love – thank you.
Cheryl, all’s well that ends well 🙂
What a sweet story! I love the birds that live around our home… but sometimes I worry about them too much. Thankfully there is One who does not sleep so my worries are unnecessary.
Blessings ~ Wendy
Greenlightlady, some of us worry too much about everything. We really shouldn’t. There’s no need for anything beyond a practical concern. Blessings to you too.
What a lucky lucky chickadee! So often the ones I’ve come across who have crashed haven’t regained their senses.
Lovely birds, they are indeed.
The local ones are quite the chatterboxes when they come for seeds and water.
Thanks.
Eva, we’ve been amazingly lucky with our crash victims. You’d think with all that chatting the ones do out your way, they’d at least make a mention to one another of flying tips and window warnings!
Yes, one would think so indeed. Often it seems they’re doing some sort of riot control lately. Something is definitely going on! LOL.
Never seen that kind of Chickadee before Amy-Lynn. Glad it turned out OK.
Sybil, but now that you know they exist, you’ll be looking… and soon you’ll see one. They are there.
Love that closeup of the chickadee’s feathers, Amy-Lynn. Also the expression on its face — mildly perplexed.
Pamela, aren’t those young feathers amazing? The branch shape is such a natural wonder. Hopefully the little chickadee remembers enough from the experience to not fly into the window again.
Oh my–I didn’t realize our beloved chickadee had a cousin. This guy looks so sweet. And, yes, as Pamela said, perplexed.
Hi Kathy, the adults look just like a browner version of the black-capped ones. Just as cute.
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I hope it was a sign! Thanks for taking such good care of her/him. We had a lot of black capped chickadees in the yard at the lake. I fed them at a couple of feeders thru out our cold winters. I love when their all puffed up.
The fluffy ones look especially cute. However, they fluff when they are cold so perhaps that’s when they are most seriously in need of a warm cuddle – if only they would allow us!