Black-capped Chickadees Excavating a Nest Hole at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 26, 2019

While birding at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center I came a across a couple of hard working Black-capped Chickadees. They were taking turns excavating a nest hole in a dead tree along a path. They would chip away in the nest hole and then take a bill full of wood pieces from inside the hole carry them to a nearby branch and let them fall. I watched them from a distance for about 3-4 minutes. It was a beautiful morning out birding but bird action and species was slow in the location I hit. Images were taken on April 26, 2019.

The Black-capped Chickadee with a bill full of wood pieces…

The Black-capped Chickadee excavates in the bottom of the nest hole…

The Black-capped Chickadee excavates on the side of the nest hole…

One of the Black-capped Chickadees sits in a small tree a short distance away waiting for its turn to do some work in the nest hole…they just kept taking turns working in the nest hole…

Hanging on the nest hole opening looking and taking a break…

Checking out the progress…

Just after landing at the nest hole the Black-capped Chickadee takes a look around before working…

The Black-capped Chickadee excavates in the upper part of the nest hole…

The nest hole in the tree…

The Black-capped Chickadee on the side of the tree at the nest hole opening…

Black-capped Chickadee eating Staghorn Sumac seeds at Lake Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on March 19, 2018

Birding Lake Park this morning in Milwaukee the highlight was a Black-capped Chickadee eating Staghorn Sumac seeds at a group of plants. An American Robin also made a brief appearance for some seeds but did not hang around. What a great native plant as this species provides food for so many bird species in the spring of the year. It was a bright sunny day but the northeast steady wind off the lake made for a cold almost spring day. Images were taken on March 19, 2018.

Purple Finches, Northern Cardinals, and Black-capped Chickadees feeding on the natural food supply

Purple Finches, Northern Cardinals, and Black-capped Chickadees feeding on the natural food supply, crab apples for their seeds and white ash seeds in the South Kettle Moraine, Waukesha County, WI. Photographs were taken on March 7, 2014

Purple Finches

Purple Finch - Male

Purple Finch – Male

Purple Finch - Male

Purple Finch – Male

Purple Finch - Female

Purple Finch – Female

Northern Cardinals

Cardinal - Male

Northern Cardinal – Male

Cardinal - Male

Northern Cardinal – Male

Black-capped Chickadees

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee -Hammering on the seed shell!

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee – Holding the seed firm!

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Birdwatching in Marquette County

While birdwatching in Marquette County, I was able to photograph Eastern Bluebirds, a Red-headed Woodpecker, and others on October 26, 2013. Images were taken near a small water source where birds were coming and going, bathing, preening and drinking.

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Eastern Bluebird

 

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Eastern Bluebird

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Red-headed Woodpecker, Juvenile transitioning to the red head

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Blue Jay

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Blue Jay

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Dark-eyed Junco

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Blue Jay

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Black-capped Chickadee

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Eastern Bluebird

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Eastern Bluebird

To see the gallery of images, please click here.