Black-capped Chickadee on Snowy Branches Pencil Sketch p7

Chickadees are remarkable birds. First, it is almost impossible to find someone who doesn’t like these cute and cheery birds. In addition to looks and personality, they also seem intelligent and adaptable. Although tiny, they are hardy and can survive unbelievably cold weather.

While working on this sketch, I kept thinking about a place from my youth called Ski Wing. We went downhill skiing there all the time. It was a great way to have fun in the frigid winters near Buffalo, NY. The ski chalet there backed up against the woods. A few times a day we’d have to pass between the woods and the chalet on the way to the Ski Club where we kept our skiis, would take a break to warm up or would have lunch. Like the chickadees, the staff at the Main Chalet was “resourceful” (meaning cheap) and would dispose of the old contents of their deep frier by throwing it out the back door where the fat would quickly freeze against the snow. There was always a crowd of chickadees and titmice waiting for their turn to gobble up the energy rich “suet” that the fry cook supplied them with. You could get unbelievable close to them. I’d often stop and watch them devouring the fat and bathe in the thick aroma of old french fries. Lord knows what other wildlife was attracted to the waste they’d throw out back. At least we didn’t see any rats. I’d imagine that when spring came and the “glaciers” receded from behind the chalet, that there was a mountain of putrefying rancid fat sitting there. Yuck!