Chicka-nee-nee-nee

Ever since Ben was little he has called these birds Chick-a-nees.  We have a bird clock that has a different bird for each hour - and he also says "mopping bird".

Don's cousin Bob brought us a birdhouse from Wisconsin when he drove out to visit several years ago.  We've always hung it in a tree.  One day earlier this month - when it was still warm - Don and I were having our tea out in the yard by the trees and I noticed that there was a "chick-a-nee" flitting in and out of the trees.  She would perch on the branches - then dart up and down in the tree - chatting all the time.

The birdhouse that Bob brought us from Wisconsin . . .

Do you see her up in the branches?

 Then she hopped onto the birdhouse . . .

Back onto a branch . . .

 Now back on the birdhouse - ever watchful . . .

 Oh - back to the top of the birdhouse to survey the surroundings . . . look at those big people over there . . .

We were sitting very still - Don had to lean forward a bit so I could get photos of the birdhouse without having to move and possibly scare the chick-a-nee away . . . he's very patient with my picture taking . . .

Now she's on the perch . . .

Thinking about going in . . .

Going in . . .

Ok - almost in . . .

And looking back out at us - like she is saying - see, this is MY house . . . I can come in here whenever I want . . .

And back outside.  She repeated this several times while we sat there - and finally Don could relax and sit back in his chair.

The next day Ben and Jahn came over and they sat out by the birdhouse with me until we saw the chick-a-nee go in.  They were very excited about baby birds.  Ben and I watched during the week as the mother chick-a-nee began to bring food and we could hear the teeny tiny peeping.

After a frightful windstorm I noticed that the birdhouse was on the ground under the tree.  I could hear peeping coming from it - and it was lying on its side.  I carefully began to move it upright - listening for the peeping, to make sure I wasn't crushing the babies with the nesting materials inside.  I finally got it hung back in the tree and the mother chick-a-nee was soon at the door - bringing food to her babies.

Now the birds have fleged and are flying all about the yard.  We had noticed that this year it seems we don't have many birds at the feeders - but since the chick-a-nee babies are flying about the yard - the other birds have come back - even the blue jays and the crows.  Seems that tiny little chick-a-nee mother kept all the other birds out of her territory while she hatched her eggs and raised her babies.  Brave little chick-a-nee mother!

Chick-a-nee nee nee - Chick-a-nee nee nee (from a song Ben learned at preschool)