A Birder's Quest

Every winter, we look forward to the familiar company of three little visitors at our feeders, the Black-capped Chickadee, the Boreal Chickadee, and the Mountain Chickadee.

Seeing these three species together had become a seasonal rhythm.

But there was always one more I hoped to see.

The Chestnut-backed Chickadee, a beautiful little bird typically found along the west coast of British Columbia—far from where we live.

I never expected it would happen.

Then one winter morning, while photographing birds in our front yard, something caught my eye.

One tiny bird looked… different. Subtle at first. But enough to pause.

After checking my bird guide, my suspicions were confirmed, it was a Chestnut-backed Chickadee.

Right there. In our yard. In Alberta.

What made the moment even more extraordinary was what followed.

We learned that, historically, there had only been 17 recorded sightings of this species in Alberta. And yet, that winter, we had three individuals visiting our feeders—staying for over three months.

Birders later told us that seeing all four chickadee species together is considered a “Birder’s Quest.”

Something rare. Something many hope for… but few ever experience.

And somehow, for a brief time, we got to witness it every single day.

Unfortunately, they didn’t return the following winter.

But the memory remains.

And when you look at these images, I hope you can almost hear their familiar “chickadee-dee-dee” call… and feel the same joy and wonder that filled those quiet winter days.

 -   Stan Masters

To download the story CLICK HERE