Tiny One to the Rescue!

I consider the critters of the Bayou to be some of my best friends.  I watch them from a distance and after a bit, they grow used to my presence and lose all fear of me.  Once this happens I can usually walk rather close to the critters and even hand-feed a lot of them.  No matter how many times I do this, it never loses that thrill of the first time.  You would think that the larger critters would be the tamest but for some reason, it is the tiny ones that seem to be the friendliest.  Take, for instance, the tiny chickadee.  These birds are only about four inches long and weigh in at about a whopping one half ounce!  When I say tiny...I mean itsy-bitsy, teeny-tiny, wee-little things!

While out and about the hillside yesterday, I noticed that one Carolina Chickadee seemed to be following me.  As I moved along the marsh line, the bird stayed within a few feet.  At times, I could have reached out and plucked the little rascal from the brambles. The bird was acting mightily busy and making all sorts of "chipping" sounds.  If I stopped the bird would hop from limb to limb and literally fuss at me. My first thought was that I had bumbled my way too close to its nest.  I could be disturbing the bird unintentionally.  I would hate to cause my friend any stress so I eased back from the  marsh edge and started down toward the canebrake.  The bird followed and seemed to be growing more agitated by the minute. What had I done to irritate this poor bird?  I wondered about this and then realized that I had not refilled the birdfeeders for the day.  Oh, my goodness!  The tiny bird was trying to get my attention to let me know that breakfast should have been served long before my hike began!

 I rushed back to the house and grabbed the birdseed.  How could I forget my friends?  During the night, raccoons and flying squirrels empty the feeders leaving nothing for the birds come morning.  I had to smile when I reached the feeders.  There, birds of all types had gathered together for breakfast but no meal had been served.  The entire mass was a bit agitated but soon broke out in song when they realized that I came bearing gifts!  The Carolina Chickadee was the only one brave enough to come forward and demand that I get hopping on my chores.  The tiniest of the crew made the biggest impact for the entire avian gathering!  My little Chickadee friend came flying back near me as if to say "Thank you!"  Yep!  That made my day a bit brighter!