A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.... you know I never did quite understand that saying! Threefold thanks for this wonderful photo, to Ben for "hand feeding" this fine, feathered friend, to Bonnie for preserving the moment in time and to Brian Rendel for adding it to his Guest Gallery. Chickadees really are neat creatures. The way they flit back and forth to the feeder has always fascinated me, then add in their song...just beauty at it's best. This one pictured here is such a friendly little fellow, kinda makes you wonder if he was raised in a U.P. nest?!!

Mary, If you plan on eating the bird, you have already caught the bird in the hand. The birds in the bush have to be caught before they are worth much to you. Of course, they are worth watching in the bush. Neat picture.

Since THEY are thinking of changing the state bird,Why don't they change it the chickadee? They are real survivors and they are all over the state,unlike the kirkland warbler...

How about the seagull or turkey?
We got plenty of them too.

How about the Mourning Dove............

Mary, the saying "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" means to me to be grateful for what you have, rather than wanting something that you MIGHT be able to get.

Happiness is wanting what you have, not having what you want. I think these sayings mean about the same things.

I agree with Troll. I grew up in Michigan and go back there to visit family and the UP as much as I can. Throughout most of the state there are no Kirtland Warblers and they are gone most of the year to their winter habitat in the Bahamas (lucky birds!). I believe the state bird should represent the whole state and there aren't many that do it better than the Black Capped Chickadee.

Our state bird is the robin -- do some people think it is the Kirtland Warbler?

Anyone know if there'll be pasty cam calendars this year?

It would be appropriate if the state bird excluded the UP since we have no input or significance south of the bridge anyway. If we did have a say I believe all would agree that the bird should be one that represents the hardiness that is required to survive in our harsh climate. Any bird that flies south for the winter (although they are the envie of many) should not even be considered.

The state bird is the robin. There is a small group that has been pushing for the Chickadee for years. To my knowledge they are not any closer to making that happen.

Mourning dove...probably not bad with some Toivo and Eino Pasty Sauce. Soon we will have a season on them to find out. I would think it tastes like a partridge.

Angel,

Yes, the Pasty Cam 2004 Calendars are on the way, better than ever. They will be available on the Pasty order form Holiday Schedule, which should shortly appear at the order link.

Ahh the Black Capped Chickadee, Poecile Atricappillus, a recurrent patron to the backyard feeder indeed. One must extol its spirit and intrepidity as it pursues its regalement amidst the baleful demeanor of the Blue Jay. Kudos on the fine shot.

Wheatman

Enjoyed seeing the photo. When I lived in Michigan and went to camp with my family, the chickadees there always came down and ate our of our hands too. Brought back good memories.

I spotted a chickadee nest/home in a hollowed out spot of a dead birch tree. Looked like it was done by a woodpecker. Is this typical for chickadees? Anyone know?

True, the state bird is still the robin. There are bills in the State Senate (SB 0740 of 2003) and House (HB 5124 of 2003) that were presented a little over a month ago to change the state bird to the Kirtland Warbler.
www.michiganlegislature.org has some info on the bills.

Kirkland Warbler indeed. Where do some folks get these ideas? It would make more sense to choose the Red-Winged Blackbird.

Hello!
Mr. Wheatman, I have not seen you post in a while... it is nice to hear from you again... and I must agree with those who favor the black-capped chickadee as a state bird. They certainly are one of my favorites to watch at the feeder (along with the cardinal and evening grosbeak)... now if I could just keep those darned squirrels away!

Roudy:
the chickadee is a cavity nester and they build theire nests in holes started by woodpeckers... in fact a couple years ago a chickadee family built a nest in a hole that some blasted woodpecker drilled into the side of my house... needless to say I was not pleased about it!

Red-winged Blackbirds don't hang around all winter either. I vote for the Black-capped Chickadee.

I don't recall seeing red-winged blackbirds when I was growing up in the U.P. However we do have a lot of them in this area.

I remember the red winged blackbird there when I was a kid up there. Do any of you know what a Bob-O-Link is?? they call them something different now.

Calumet dam now (lake) had a lot of red winged black birds--at least in the days of rafting on it it with timber from milfords lumber yard

I think it will be just terrible if they have a "Mourning Dove" season. They are a beautiful bird to watch. There are enough speices of animals and birds that are "hunted" now. Enough is enough, let them poor birds fly in peace!!

Don't fret for the Doves. People who can read, write, and write checks, are calling their local legislators thru the governor to tell them this is a single issue. Let the DNR name game birds instead of the legislators and we will vote in new legislators. This is a little back door action to take the heat off of legislators who do not want the heat of determining what is or is not game. If you let your local legislator as well as the governor know that you are serious as a heart attack about this issue, it too will pass.....A postcard is all that is required. You fellas have enough to shoot at now and if you get hungry or thirsty, the local 7/11 isn't a fer piece away. Try hunting people for a change. I did for six years and it is a lot more exciting than blowing away little coo ing doves.......

Always thought the Chickadee was so fearless
because he was so fast and knew it.
I fill the feeder and they fly right to it
as if they were waiting for me to do so.
You hear the alert go out and they are there.

I think they are more loved then the robin.

We too, enjoy the chickadees. So quick, and they seem to chirp 'Thank you.' when the feeder is re-filled. They'll sit on a branch only a foot or two away and wait. Have never even seen a Kirtlands Warbler. The chickadees are here all winter and summer. We would vote for them as the state bird.

Hunting Mourning doves seems to be basicly target
practice. Not many of these hunters eat the meat.
I am certainly not anti-hunting but this is a
farce. Nice pic as usual. We walk the nature trail
at Kensington park down here and hand feed the
Chikadees. Three years ago, while we were feeding
them a deer snuck up and stuck his nose in my coat
pocket for seed. They "culled" the herd two years
ago-had to be done.

I VOTE FOR THE MOSQUITO

what wheatman is trying to say in a language the rest of us flunkies understand....

boy ar doz cikadeez nice birts to havaround' da backyard

Should not our legislators be doing more important work, like curbing the state spending, lowering taxes and getting the state out of the red?

I remember years ago, the chickadees used to eat peanutbutter off your finger if you held very still...my dad had a feeder and yes, when the feeder was empty, they let him know. He would come home from work and they would meet him in the driveway, flying around his head, trying to make him hurry up! He nailed bottle caps to the post of the feeder and put a mix of peanutbutter and lard or somekind of grease and they cleaned it out daily. Never put peanutbutter alone...too thick I guess. He had one little bird that was missing a leg, but he hung around for years. I had the experience of putting the peanutbutter on my finger and having a little chickadee land, and eat it...a once in a lifetime for me. We have chickadees here in Ohio and I had a couple living in a birdhouse near my front door, but the bees got in their nest and I haven't seen them since!! How do you keep the bees out?? Anyone know??

John,
Of course they eat the meat, just like with woodcock, red squirrels, smelt, speckies and perch - all which have similar or less meat than a mourning dove. Michigan's population of mourning doves are hunted every year - just not in Michigan. Every state they migrate through has a season.

killing mourning doves is another example of mans inhumanity next they will be killing robins and chickadees ect. all in the name of hunting and sport, i am and avid hunter but this is too much

killing mourning doves is another example of mans inhumanity next they will be killing robins and chickadees ect. all in the name of hunting and sport, i am an avid hunter but this is too much