I went out to Kensington this morning. I haven’t been there to walk among the birds in a long time. I have loads of images to share with you. But this little sequence made me laugh.
I hope you enjoy it. too.
Incoming!Hey! Move over chickadee!Hold your horses, I’m getting my peanut!Geeze, I was here first!I’m out of here!Talk to the wing, chickadee!Yep, the patient bird gets the biggest peanut.
When I get some time I’ll look at what else I found and I’ll share the best of it with you. It was a wonderful day in the woods.
I'm a long time banker having worked in banks since the age of 17. I took a break when I turned 50 and went back to school. I graduated right when the economy took a turn for the worst and after a year of library work found myself unemployed. I was lucky that my previous bank employer wanted me back. So here I am again, a long time banker. Change is hard.
I didn’t know I had this little sequence until I looked at the images when I got home. When I saw that little titmouse with his wing I had to put it all together. This is the order it happened too…when it looks like there’s just the chickadee on my hand, the titmouse had swung down below my hand, but was still hanging on.
Mostly only at this park where they have been hand fed for generations. Once in a long while I can get a chickadee to come eat out of my hand at home, if all the feeders have been empty for a few days. And it’s winter. And they are starving.
This always looks fun to see at Kensington Metropark. I follow photographer Jocelyn Anderson on Facebook (she is also on Twitter/”X”) and every morning she heads to Kensington Metropark and takes videos of the birds eating out of her hand. They are fun little videos. I enjoy the Titmice and Chickadees most, but also like when the bigger birds, like a Dove, or Red-bellied Woodpecker settle in and make themselves at home while eating her treats.
I’ve seen someone I think is Jocelyn out there a couple times. I never ask, but I’m pretty sure it’s her. She takes phenomenal images!!! And I learn so much from her about the birds. Kensington is a very very wonderful place. I hardly ever get a mourning dove to come to my hand. Later in the summer sometimes. And red-bellies are a bit reluctant too. Though I think all the birds know her! I saw the Queen of the Boardwalk out there this week, but she wasn’t having any of me, given I’m not the hand of snacks.
Yes, I love her photos, videos and the commentary on the visitors to the hand of snacks. She does like the Queen of the Boardwalk and I hope the Queen’s mate gets friendlier this year – it was a bit skittish last year, but gettin’ there. I’m amazed when a Red-winged Blackbird or a Blue Jay sits on her hand – they are not the friendliest birds to interact with and yes, it’s almost a fly-by, but still they come. I liked her series of the Sandhill Cranes raising the Canada Goose. I enjoyed reading about that too, even though it had a sad ending.
Okay, now I’m really jealous! You had TWO birds in your hand at once??? And here, I’ve never had a bird eat out of my hand. Humph, you must be the Bird-Whisperer, Dawn!!
Well, it’s this park where the birds have been trained for generations (of birds) to eat out of people’s hands. Sometimes two argue over who’s turn it is. I was lucky to get the images. I was just shooting mindlessly. You never know what you have till you get home and check out the pictures.
What a fun post – I giggled. I don’t know how you can hold your hand out and not giggle and jiggle the camera when they’re eating and competing for the treats. Way to go!
Thanks for taking one for the blogging buddy team! Do the birds feel heavy, light, tickle, or how would you describe how it feels when they land on your hand?
Most of them feel like nothing at all. They are so light, and are there for just a moment. Some hang on and look around for a bit, but weigh nothing at all. On the other hand, the blue jays come in for a grab and go, they plunk down hard enough to make the seed in your hand fly up and then fall onto the ground. Apparently that’s their goal. And the red-bellies are heavy enough that if they fly in with any speed and land on your hand, the hand will bounce. But most of the time they just hop over from a tree and aren’t that heavy. They have short little legs so most of their bodies hang down below your hand.
Change Is Hard 
March 1, 2024 at 10:14 pm
Great pictures, Dawn.
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March 2, 2024 at 12:56 pm
I didn’t know I had this little sequence until I looked at the images when I got home. When I saw that little titmouse with his wing I had to put it all together. This is the order it happened too…when it looks like there’s just the chickadee on my hand, the titmouse had swung down below my hand, but was still hanging on.
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March 1, 2024 at 10:15 pm
Love this! The commentary is fabulous, Dawn. :)
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March 2, 2024 at 12:56 pm
They were both hungry enough not to give in to the other one.
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March 2, 2024 at 1:11 pm
So fun 🙂
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March 2, 2024 at 2:44 am
They are both so cute!🥰 They have different markings, so they must be a male and female.
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March 2, 2024 at 12:57 pm
The black headed one is a chickadee, the one with the pointed feathers on top of his head is a titmouse.
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March 2, 2024 at 4:03 pm
Thank you for explaining, Dawn. I thought they were both chickadees! They were both very trusting, coming straight to your hand for food. x
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March 2, 2024 at 4:57 pm
And I just noticed the title of the post! 🤦♀️
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March 2, 2024 at 8:28 pm
LOL :)
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March 2, 2024 at 10:05 am
I am so amazed that 1) you had two birds in your hand and 2) you were able to take such a great series of photos!
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March 2, 2024 at 12:57 pm
Get focused on my hand before the birds show up, and once they do, just hold the shutter down, and then look and see what you got! 🙂
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March 2, 2024 at 12:30 pm
I’ve always been so impressed by the way you are able to hand feed wild birds. Love this post! Made me smile 😁
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March 2, 2024 at 12:58 pm
Mostly only at this park where they have been hand fed for generations. Once in a long while I can get a chickadee to come eat out of my hand at home, if all the feeders have been empty for a few days. And it’s winter. And they are starving.
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March 2, 2024 at 12:50 pm
Wow! So much fun! Thank you for sharing.
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March 2, 2024 at 12:58 pm
It’s always fun there. Thanks for enjoying!
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March 2, 2024 at 9:49 pm
This always looks fun to see at Kensington Metropark. I follow photographer Jocelyn Anderson on Facebook (she is also on Twitter/”X”) and every morning she heads to Kensington Metropark and takes videos of the birds eating out of her hand. They are fun little videos. I enjoy the Titmice and Chickadees most, but also like when the bigger birds, like a Dove, or Red-bellied Woodpecker settle in and make themselves at home while eating her treats.
LikeLike
March 4, 2024 at 10:06 pm
I’ve seen someone I think is Jocelyn out there a couple times. I never ask, but I’m pretty sure it’s her. She takes phenomenal images!!! And I learn so much from her about the birds. Kensington is a very very wonderful place. I hardly ever get a mourning dove to come to my hand. Later in the summer sometimes. And red-bellies are a bit reluctant too. Though I think all the birds know her! I saw the Queen of the Boardwalk out there this week, but she wasn’t having any of me, given I’m not the hand of snacks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
March 5, 2024 at 8:24 pm
Yes, I love her photos, videos and the commentary on the visitors to the hand of snacks. She does like the Queen of the Boardwalk and I hope the Queen’s mate gets friendlier this year – it was a bit skittish last year, but gettin’ there. I’m amazed when a Red-winged Blackbird or a Blue Jay sits on her hand – they are not the friendliest birds to interact with and yes, it’s almost a fly-by, but still they come. I liked her series of the Sandhill Cranes raising the Canada Goose. I enjoyed reading about that too, even though it had a sad ending.
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March 3, 2024 at 12:04 am
Wow, how cool to see this, Dawn, not only the competition between the two but such great shots of the birds eating out of your hand!
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March 4, 2024 at 10:06 pm
Yes, I felt quite lucky to have captured it.
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March 3, 2024 at 9:38 am
These photos are magical! Thinking about these photos will make me smile all day. I just love them.
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March 4, 2024 at 10:07 pm
I’m delighted you’re smiling all day! That’s very cool!
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March 3, 2024 at 9:55 am
Okay, now I’m really jealous! You had TWO birds in your hand at once??? And here, I’ve never had a bird eat out of my hand. Humph, you must be the Bird-Whisperer, Dawn!!
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March 4, 2024 at 10:08 pm
Well, it’s this park where the birds have been trained for generations (of birds) to eat out of people’s hands. Sometimes two argue over who’s turn it is. I was lucky to get the images. I was just shooting mindlessly. You never know what you have till you get home and check out the pictures.
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March 3, 2024 at 12:18 pm
That is so cool! Love the sequence showing the whole interaction.
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March 4, 2024 at 10:08 pm
It’s always a cool experience out there.
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March 4, 2024 at 4:57 am
What a fun post – I giggled. I don’t know how you can hold your hand out and not giggle and jiggle the camera when they’re eating and competing for the treats. Way to go!
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March 4, 2024 at 10:09 pm
I don’t take all that many pictures…lately especially I just feed them and enjoy the experience. But I need a few so that you guys can enjoy it too!
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March 5, 2024 at 5:25 am
Thanks for taking one for the blogging buddy team! Do the birds feel heavy, light, tickle, or how would you describe how it feels when they land on your hand?
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March 5, 2024 at 10:24 am
Most of them feel like nothing at all. They are so light, and are there for just a moment. Some hang on and look around for a bit, but weigh nothing at all. On the other hand, the blue jays come in for a grab and go, they plunk down hard enough to make the seed in your hand fly up and then fall onto the ground. Apparently that’s their goal. And the red-bellies are heavy enough that if they fly in with any speed and land on your hand, the hand will bounce. But most of the time they just hop over from a tree and aren’t that heavy. They have short little legs so most of their bodies hang down below your hand.
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March 5, 2024 at 4:26 pm
That’s so cool, thank you so much for sharing your insight 🥰
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March 7, 2024 at 10:17 pm
How wonderful!! Great photos!!!
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