@murky I've been watching the storm move NE through the Missississi and Ohio Valleys into MI. It's about here (it has a 4PM appointment) and they're saying 3-6" more on top of what we already have. Let 'er rip.
****************************************************
Animals recognize predators, and as far as they're concerned if you exhibit predatory behavior you're a predator, no matter how altruistic your intent. To speed the 'taming' process along, it's best to behave in a way that reassures Mr Chickadee you're not looking for something to eat. I've spent untold thousands of hours in the field observing and getting close to animals. In large part, that's accomplished by employing reassuring behavior. Until trust is established, I avoid looking directly at an animal as much as possible, even at a distance. When I do glance an animal's way, it's usually just to confirm it is still there or hasn't moved far. I don't approach it directly, and I assume a meandering gait that says I'm either unaware of the animal or completely disinterested. To approach an animal, I'll wander a bit, looking around like I'm just checking out the surroundings while quartering toward the animal but not at it. Animals know when your focus is on them and it makes them uncomfortable/ wary/ skittish.
A key element has to do with the birds being conditioned to expect a handout wherever you set up to interact with them. The day before you want to work on gaining their trust, you could do something similar to this:
Or, you could put an over-turned bucket or milk carton on the ground at the base of a tree or shrub, then set a bowl of sunflower seeds (black oilers are best) on it. That will get them conditioned to the idea there is a meal to be had. It's best to do this in a place where there are no feeders within 100-200 yards. If there are nearby feeders, the birds will be more reluctant to take the leap of faith when all they need do is fly a few yards to the neighbor's feeder. Large city parks are good places to go to tame the birds, especially if the neighborhood isn't residential. You might only need to leave a pile of seeds on a picnic table to get the birds coming to your spot. I'm lucky to have a boat launch near me that's surrounded by woods. It has trees and picnic tables and few people during the winter, other than the occasional fisherman.
So now you have the birds coming to where you want them and you're ready to train them to the hand. The easiest way to do that is to make sure none of your feeders are unavailable to the birds. Wear a hat that allows you to place a small handful of seeds on top of the hat where they will stay in place. I got checked by a Conservation Officer once while walking around my campsite with seeds on my hat and a half dozen birds taking turns helping themselves to seeds all the while we were talking. He didn't even ask to see my hunting license.
Having nearby cover for the birds is important. Lean against the tree, sit at the picnic table which is next to a tree, ..... and put some seeds on your hat. The hat color should contrast with the seeds so the birds see them right off. Don't move, squint and look downward or away, not at the birds. There will plenty of time for all sorts of interactions once they accept you're not a threat. Be aware the first flutters of wings while they test the waters can startle you, so be prepared and try not to flinch. Once the birds are coming to your hat regularly, you can remove the seeds from the hat to your hand, The birds will almost immediately move to your hand. If you're at a table, you can sit at one end of the table and move the seeds closer every few minutes. Always move slowly. Typically, using this strategy, I'm feeding from hand within 10 minutes of arriving at my chosen spot, which most often is the back yard.
Chickadees are polite and will normally take turns grabbing a seed and flying off. After a while, if you clench a seed tightly between forefinger and thumb so the bird can't fly off with the seed (which is their wont) you can watch how they peel the husk away from the seed. Chickadees will follow you around and land on you directly. Nuthatches won't. To get nuthatches to land on you, you'll need to lean against a tree. They'll land above you, then hop down the tree to your shoulder then down your arm to your hand.
Another thought: You can also hang a suet seed cake in a wire basket holder. That should last up to a week. Take it down when you arrive and switch to sunflower seeds. When you leave add another cake and you'll be good to go the next time the urge to fuss with the birds strikes.
If you have stress in your life, interacting with the birds is a darn good way to strip some of it away. Even w/o understanding why, the word that pops into my mind is renewal. For me, I think maybe it's the sense of renewing the connection I've always had with nature - more than just something I enjoy, it's something I need to stay centered. Working with plants/ bonsai also helps me get that nurturing bone scratched.
Al
