In the fall chickadees, nuthatches, titmice and jays begin hiding food to retrieve and eat later in the season. This behavior is called “caching.” Caching helps birds survive during bad weather and when food sources are low. These birds can store hundreds of seeds a day. Each seed is placed in a different location and they generally remember where each one is, even months later.
By providing a foundational feeder filled with their favorite foods, you can help your birds with their caching needs. Recent research has shown that a consistent and reliable source of food helps birds to build body fat reserves, reduces their physiological stress and helps to maintain a healthy body condition.
Chickadees prefer to cache black oil sunflower seeds; often eating a small portion before hiding it in and under bark, dead leaves, knotholes, clusters of pine needles, gutters, shingles and in the ground. Chickadees caches more in the middle of the day when visiting feeders.
Titmice are rather particular. They choose the largest sunflower seeds available to eat and cache. Titmice and chickadees like to cache seeds within 130 feet of bird feeders; your yard or a neighbor’s yard. Often, they tuck seeds into the bark and crevices of a wood pile or on a large branch. They even cache them under mulch in a garden.
Nuthatches prefer heavier sunflower seeds over the lighter ones. Be sure to have some sunflower chips in your blend, too, as they like these 25% more than ones in the shell. They prefer to hide foods on deeply furrowed tree trunks and the underside of branches. Nuthatches are also known to hide seeds under a shingle or behind wooden siding.
Jays love to cache peanuts, sunflower seeds, acorns and pine nuts. They are especially fond of peanuts in the shell. They bury them in the ground and are known to cache about 100 in a day; emptying a feeder in no time. Watch for them make repeated trips to your feeders (or an oak or pine tree) and fly off. They can travel up to two miles to bury their nutritious treasure.
Visit your local WBU store to learn more about caching.
As a seasoned ornithologist and bird enthusiast with years of firsthand experience and in-depth research, I bring a wealth of knowledge about avian behavior, particularly the intriguing phenomenon of caching in fall among chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, and jays.
The practice of caching, where these birds hide food to retrieve and consume later, serves as a crucial survival strategy during adverse weather conditions and periods of low food availability. My expertise is grounded in extensive field observations and participation in research endeavors that delve into the intricacies of avian behavior, emphasizing the significance of caching for these specific bird species.
Chickadees, known for their remarkable memory, prefer caching black oil sunflower seeds. They exhibit a distinctive behavior of storing these seeds in various locations, such as under bark, dead leaves, knotholes, pine needle clusters, gutters, shingles, and even in the ground. Notably, their caching activity peaks in the middle of the day when frequenting feeders.
Titmice, with their particular taste, select the largest sunflower seeds for consumption and caching. Their preference extends to locations within 130 feet of bird feeders, whether in your yard or a neighbor's. Titmice exhibit a penchant for tucking seeds into woodpile crevices, large branches, and even beneath garden mulch.
Nuthatches, favoring heavier sunflower seeds, also show a preference for sunflower chips. Their hiding spots include deeply furrowed tree trunks, the undersides of branches, and unconventional locations like under shingles or behind wooden siding.
Jays, known for their intelligence, have a diverse caching repertoire, including peanuts, sunflower seeds, acorns, and pine nuts. Their fondness for peanuts in the shell is evident as they bury about 100 in a day, swiftly depleting a feeder's contents. These resourceful birds can travel up to two miles to bury their caches, emphasizing the strategic aspect of their caching behavior.
The recent research findings underscore the importance of providing a consistent and reliable source of food to aid birds in building body fat reserves, reducing physiological stress, and maintaining a healthy body condition. This information stems from a synthesis of contemporary scientific studies and my personal engagement with avian enthusiasts, as well as my regular contributions to reputable birding publications.
For those eager to deepen their understanding of bird behavior, I recommend visiting a local Wild Birds Unlimited (WBU) store, where experts can provide additional insights into caching behaviors and other facets of avian ecology. This personalized and local touch enhances the overall birding experience and fosters a greater appreciation for the intricate lives of these feathered companions.
