![\"Jeff](\"http:\/\/outdooredguys.files.wordpress.com\/2013\/12\/jeff-in-the-hand-fall-2013.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe order they visit your feeder matters. \u00a0There is a firm hierarchy, where each Chickadee has it’s place, either above one of it’s flock mates and often also below another. \u00a0If a Chickadee approaches the feeder out of turn it will be reprimanded by a higher ranking bird. \u00a0Obviously higher ranked birds get more food and first choice. \u00a0At Wrigley’s and at the Dickson I color band the Chickadee so that we can identify individuals. \u00a0If you watch long enough you can determine who is in charge and who is stuck waiting it’s turn, eventually piecing together the entire hierarchy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In the video you can clearly see one Chickadee waiting for another before taking it’s turn. \u00a0Classes that visit Wrigley Corners help with an observational study of Chickadee behaviour like this. \u00a0There are other important behaviors to observe, which I will have to post about another time… stay tuned.<\/p>\n To get hierarchical data you need to be able to identify both birds. \u00a0In the field you get one chance to make your observation and Chickadees move fast! \u00a0While watching the video did you see the leg bands for both birds? \u00a0If so, put the band combinations into a comment (right leg first, top to bottom and then left leg). \u00a0In a day or two I will post who both birds are.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [wpvideo dw4A8hYw] If you have a bird feeder at home you likely have Chickadees visiting regularly. \u00a0At Wrigley Corners we also feed these birds by hand! \u00a0Though Chickadee’s do occasionally have little squabbles I find them to be relatively tame visitors, certainly compared to the various finches they are down-right polite. Chickadees form non-breeding flocks […]<\/p>\n