CAROLINA CHICKADEE
PR

In its black hat, black cravat and gray and white suit, the chickadee could, with a stretch of imagination, be envisioned as attired for a full dress affair. The one thing lacking would be the formality of behavior because this tiny bit of feathers is more like a clown and certainly does not wear the cloak for a grand party. Five and a half inches long, it is the outstanding acrobat of birds and is constantly on the move. He is frequently seen hanging upside down on a pine cone and industriously pecking at a hidden insect or spider.

Chickadees are especially visible in the winter when leaves have vanished from the trees. Bad weather does not affect their spirits; in fact, a snowstorm seems to bring out the "little boy" in them and they race through the trees in company with nuthatches, titmice and kinglets.

Two species of chickadees are native to Virginia but the one common to the Historic Triangle is the Carolina chickadee while its larger brother, the black-capped, is found more often in the mountain areas. Chickadees are of great help to mankind, killing and eating small caterpillars, moths, spiders and insect eggs. They are especially active in apple and peach orchards.

The nests of these tiny birds are usually found in natural tree cavities or deserted woodpecker holes. Chickadees also come to man-made bird houses that have small entrance holes.

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