Waking early to another cold morning here in Michigan, Katie and I wandered out to the backyard to fill the feeders. I knew the birds would be hungry. Katie waited up on the deck as I went down to get seed from our metal storage bin.
As I was pouring seed into a flat feeder several yards away a little chickadee dropped down to the rim of the bin, checking to see if there was anything good within reach. I waited quietly for him to decide. Noticing me, he flew up into a nearby tree to wait.
I slowly walked over and he hopped down a few branches. Watching.
I reached into the bin, grabbed a handful of oilers and offered them, hand outstretched, to him. He dropped down a couple more branches. I stood still.

Closer, closer, he skipped from branch to branch, clearly fixated on the oilers in my hand. Inches away he considered how to get breakfast, but wasn’t quite brave enough to make that last hop.
I moved my hand closer to him. We were at eye level and he looked at me. I looked at him and moved my hand a fraction of an inch closer.
He stretched out and delicately chose an oiler from my palm, then hopped up to a higher branch to enjoy it.
I had a rendezvous with a chickadee this morning, and I liked it.
April 10, 2022 at 9:55 am
Beautiful photo. And how special to have a rendezvous. What is an oiler?
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April 10, 2022 at 9:57 am
It’s a black sunflower seed.
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April 10, 2022 at 9:56 am
What a wonderful way to start your day. It is so rewarding feeding the birds that visit one’s garden.
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April 12, 2022 at 11:36 am
We love to watch them. We have a good variety and they all have their own habits, and there’s definitely a hierarchy of birds as to who gets first dibs on a feeder and who moves out to make room for someone bigger or nosier or meaner.
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April 10, 2022 at 11:06 am
Dawn: Bird Whisperer
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April 12, 2022 at 11:36 am
LOL
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April 10, 2022 at 12:03 pm
Charming encounter, Dawn!
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April 11, 2022 at 6:38 am
It was!
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April 10, 2022 at 12:34 pm
Wow, at your own house! Try for a repeat performance!
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April 11, 2022 at 6:39 am
I will. It usually only works in the mornings when there isn’t other food available.
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April 10, 2022 at 1:39 pm
Aw, what a grand way to begin the day … for BOTH of you! And good for Katie, watching but not tearing around like Monkey would have, scaring the little ones off!
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April 11, 2022 at 6:39 am
One of the advantages of an old dog. LOL
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April 10, 2022 at 3:16 pm
A perfect start to your day! 😊
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April 11, 2022 at 6:39 am
It was!
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April 10, 2022 at 4:52 pm
That’s so awesome!
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April 11, 2022 at 6:39 am
I was certainly smiling!
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April 10, 2022 at 6:13 pm
So sweet!
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April 12, 2022 at 11:37 am
It was a very sweet encounter.
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April 12, 2022 at 9:00 pm
I have a friend that lives on the coast of Oregon. She did the same and sent me a photo. I think they know whom they can trust.. Gentle and kind hearts..
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April 10, 2022 at 6:35 pm
Fabulous picture! Love the background color against the dear little chickadee.
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April 11, 2022 at 6:39 am
I like it too. Would be fun to try to paint him.
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April 11, 2022 at 7:26 am
Yes!
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April 11, 2022 at 10:43 pm
Fun for you! I can get really close when I fill the feeders but I have never tried an outstretched hand…I may someday:)
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April 12, 2022 at 11:37 am
I bet if they’re interested in you when you fill the feeder they’d come down to your hand if you offer something they like before you fill the feeders.
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April 12, 2022 at 6:50 am
You inspire me!!!!! I will keep trying…….
I love my chickadees.
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April 12, 2022 at 8:12 am
It only works (so far) if there’s no alternative food for them.
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April 12, 2022 at 1:53 pm
Best rendezvous ever to have a chickadee landing!
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April 12, 2022 at 5:09 pm
It was pretty sweet.
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April 20, 2022 at 2:44 pm
A lovely post – a treat for you and for us to read.
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April 20, 2022 at 3:38 pm
It was definitely a treat. Since then there’s been a couple times a chickadee considered coming down to my hand, but so far none have. I have hopes for the future though.
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