Friendly chickadee

My Grandpa was a friend of the chickadees. Sometimes he'd sit out under one of his homemade bird feeders and wait for them, letting them perch on his shoulders or eat out of his hands.

While playing out in the yard this morning, I was able to get within a couple of feet of the bird feeder while both a sparrow and chickadee took turns eating. The sparrow was more cautious, often watching me from the tree and waiting for me to move a little further away before returning. Here he is peeking at me.

The chickadee was braver, though he did scold me a few times when I surprised him. Perhaps they have less fear because after swiping a seed from the feeder they fly to safety in the tree?