Little Chickadees

My original plan was to write a blog post about hand-feeding chickadees based on firsthand experience. Unfortunately, life interfered. So I’m punting.

If you want to try it — and I still do — there’s an opportunity through the Cleveland Metroparks for a few more weeks. The Brecksville Nature Center is presenting Hand-Feed a Chickadee from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 24.

The Metroparks provides the feed and some instruction to lure the birds. As this YouTube video from Canada shows, chickadees will take the black oil sunflower seeds one at a time from your bare hand. That’s bare, as in no gloves. Let’s hope it's warm enough in these parts to make feeding the little guys a pleasant experience.

You also can hand-feed chickadees at some other spots in Northeast Ohio, including The West Woods in Geauga County.