Hugh Wiberg - Hand-Feeding Chickadees: Storeys Country Wisdom Bulletin A-211

Excerpted from Hand-Feeding Backyard Birds, by Hugh Wiberg

For many in todays busy, blacktopped, computerized world, the idea of reaching out and having a wild bird perch on your hand to feed seems an idealistic fairy tale. In reality, however, given a little patience and consistency, this special moment with nature is not so far-fetched after all.

Of the estimated 65 million people in North America who put out feed for wild birds, the number who have had a bird come to the hand is extremely small. This is because there is a general consensus among those of us who feed the birds that nature has programmed these feathered creatures to avoid, at all cost, proximity with humans. Many birds, however, and most especially the sociable Black-capped Chickadees, given a lot of practice and patience, are willing to feed in the presence of humans and even from their hands!

Whether in the backyard or at a local park or woodland, hand-feeding birds can be one of the most relaxing and fulfilling hobbies for the weekend naturalist. Chickadees are the most common participants in hand-feeding, and from time to time you will see, in the newspaper or on a bag of sunflower seeds, a photo of a chickadee perched on a human hand. They seem to be the most human-friendly of wild birds and the most willing to take to hand-feeding. Think, for example, of what happens when you restock your backyard feeders. Usually the birds in the area scatter immediately. You may have noticed, though, that Black-capped Chickadees are the last to depart as you approach the feeder.

I have so enjoyed my experiences with Black-caps that I was motivated to experiment with other winter resident birds here in the northeastern United States. Some of these efforts succeeded; others failed entirely. At our backyard feeders in Wilmington, Massa-chusetts, and at several woodland locations in our home state as well, I have brought to my hand the Tufted Titmouse, the Red-breasted Nuthatch, the White-breasted Nuthatch, and the Downy Wood-pecker. And I have had other birds, such as the mockingbird, Purple Finch, and White-throated Sparrow, come as close to my hand as 12 to 18 inches (3045 cm), which leads me to believe that if I were to take the additional time required I could probably land them, too.

The best places to find chickadees and other birds are in the remaining relatively undisturbed woodlands of your state or province. Wildlife sanctuaries are excellent because they tend to be protected from wholesale human intrusion. And of course our backyard bird feeders, even with declining bird populations, are a constant source of hand-feeding opportunities.

Oftentimes considered the friendliest of backyard birds, chickadees are the most common participants in hand-feeding.

Except for a dozen or so Black-capped Chickadees that live in my neighborhood and take sunflower seeds from my hand year-round, my activities with hand-feeding are confined to the five months from November through March. There are several reasons for this, including the life cycle of birds, availability of food, and weather conditions.

Wild birds rear their young during the warmer months, when a bountiful supply of natural foods is available. The parent birds time is devoted almost entirely to caring for this years brood (or in some cases, broods). With the constant demands of feeding and protecting their young, the older birds do not have time in spring and summer to learn to know and trust a human offering handouts.

Busy summer schedules do not allow most of us sufficient time for hand-feeding. Again, success with hand-feeding birds is not a one- or two-shot process. We may be so occupied during the spring and summer months with gardens, cookouts, lawn mowing, and vacations that visiting a sanctuary would be out of the question. Many of us are simply too busy at this outdoor time of year to seriously pursue this activity. When November arrives, our weekends become much less hectic and, if we choose, we can begin to think about coaxing a chickadee out of a shrub and onto our hand.

Winter is survival time for birds. In New England, our severe winters put great stress on all animals and birds simply to survive. Without insects, the native wild birds must constantly scramble to find enough residual bits of fruit, vegetable matter, seeds, and berries to carry them through until spring. With the exceptions of the very young, the very old, and the injured or diseased, most birds manage quite well despite occasional subzero temperatures.

Optimal Conditions for Hand-Feeding

A winters day (February is perfect here in the Northeast)

7:00 to 9:30 A.M.

24 hours after a severe ice storm

Bright sunshine

Outdoor temperature from 10 to 15F (12 to 9C)

Little or no wind

Backyard bird feeders give the birds a tremendous boost over the winter months. It is important that our feeders are kept consistently stocked starting in November, since some birds will become partially dependent on them until late in March.

Because food is scarce in winter, birds are more inclined to risk closer contact with humans in exchange for food. In my experience with hand-feeding, chickadees are far more willing to learn to hand-feed in January than they are in July.

Depending on many weather-related factors, the probability of succeeding with hand-feeding can fluctuate wildly. For most successful hand-feeding, finding the optimal times and conditions is important.

Although all of the cold winter months have excellent potential for hand-feeding wild birds, I have had best results in February. I believe that this is because February is the last bitterly cold month here in New England, and the surviving birds are more physically stressed during this month than at any other time of the year. Thus it is not too surprising that in February the resident chickadees, as well as titmice, nuthatches, and other birds, are willing to take food whenever and wherever it is offered, including directly from a human hand.

As to the time of day, from sunrise to 9:30 A.M. is the busiest part of the day for birds. You may have noticed that there is usually much activity around your feeder first thing in the morning. After 10 hours of fasting overnight, it is necessary for the birds to locate food quickly after daybreak in order to refuel their engines. I have had my very best hand-feeding experiences between the hours of 7:00 and 9:30 A.M.

Here in the Northeast we experience an intense ice storm perhaps one winter out of three. Despite the almost magical beauty such an event produces, I hate to see the trees and branches covered with ice, because I know the birds are going to suffer as a result. A sheet of ice on the trees effectively takes away a large part of birds winter food insects in several stages of dormancy. Fortunately, an ice coating usually melts within 24 to 48 hours, but in the meantime survival can be touch and go for the birds. The very busiest hand-feeding occasions I have had, what can be referred to as feeding frenzies, took place within a day or two of an ice storm.