In the midst of all the excitement of spring migration, it is easy to forget the “friendlies.” The chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches may not be the most glamorous birds on the block, but they are cheerful and well mannered, do not bully other birds, and never make off with more than their share of the seed.
All are permanent residents in the Low Country, foregoing the thrills of long-distance travel for the familiar comforts of home.
There are about 50 species of chickadees and titmice that live in woodlands around the world. All the chickadees have short necks, large, rounded heads, and relatively long tails.
The titmice are slender with long tails and jaunty crests. Both groups are thrifty sorts, coming to the feeder to grab a single seed which will be pounded open and either eaten immediately, or carried off and stashed in a hole or bark crevice for future consumption. Our local representatives of this family are the Carolina chickadee and the tufted titmouse.
Nuthatches are the “upside-down birds,” creeping head first down tree trunks and around branches. Some 20 species can be found throughout the world, mostly in the northern hemisphere. They have sturdy, chisel-like beaks used to “hack” open nuts and seeds.
Nuthatches, like chickadees and titmice, know all about saving for a rainy day. The tiny brown-headed nuthatch, found only in the southeastern U.S., is noted for his ingenuity. Using a piece of bark as a tool, the nuthatch will pry up other bits of bark while searching for insects. Speaking of insects, the chickadees, titmice and nuthatches win the devotion of farmers everywhere as they consume large quantities of caterpillars, insect eggs, larvae, spiders, wasps, beetles, and bees.
During the winter, chickadees, titmice and nuthatches often forage together in mixed flocks with warblers, kinglets and downy woodpeckers. Chickadees and titmice in particular maintain long-term pair bonds. When it comes time for nest building and child rearing, the “friendlies” already have the mate thing sorted out. They get an early start on house hunting while other species are still playing the dating game.
During early March, I watched both male and female chickadee dart in and out of my birdhouse with an assortment of nesting material. On March 13, I peeked in to see a tidy nest made of straw, leaves, oak catkins and bits of green moss. It was lined with soft plant down, hair and fur.
Once the nest was complete, I saw little activity and wondered if the birds had abandoned it. Then I remembered that egg laying is a quiet activity. The female chickadee will lay one egg a day for five to eight days. She won’t begin incubating until the clutch is complete, so that all the eggs hatch at about the same time. When Mrs. Chickadee leaves the nest, she covers the eggs. While she does the egg-sitting, her faithful mate provides food. Once the eggs hatch, things get busy again, as both parents dart in and out bringing insects to feed the nestlings.
Chickadees usually operate in pairs, but tufted titmice and brown-headed nuthatches often have a nest helper. For the titmice, this may be a bird from a previous brood, while for the nuthatches, it tends to be an unmated male.
While chickadee and titmouse populations have been stable and growing, brown-headed nuthatch populations are declining, due to the loss of their favorite pine forest habitat and to competition for cavities with the ever-popular eastern bluebird
To encourage all these small cavity-nesting songbirds, put up several boxes in your yard with different sized openings. 1½ inches is good for bluebirds, while 1¼ inches will work for chickadees and nuthatches.
I confess. It is going to be difficult during the next five months to avoid the sin of bluebird envy. Fortunately, I have “the friendlies” for consolation. Good birding.
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