At 11, the Methuselah of chickadees

Article by: BILL McAULIFFE , Star Tribune
Updated: December 23, 2011 - 9:06 PM

Laying claim to being the oldest of his species, the plucky little bird found near Pillager, Minn., has defied the survival odds.

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PLHurdlerDec. 23, 1111:11 PM

If the initial age of 2 years was an estimation, how can a difference of 4 months allow them to claim this as the oldest chickadee recorded?

stevedelappDec. 23, 1111:59 PM

if the bird was "about 2 years old" when first banded, how can anyone claim to know its actual age to the nearest month? Stories like this make one wonder about the Minn. system of education. "Thursday was the sixth time North has held the same bird since he first placed a small ID band on its leg in May, 2002, when he estimated it was two years old. "

gener7Dec. 24, 11 1:26 AM

The bird sounds less like Methuselah than he does the rare exception of a bird living out what should be considered a normal life span.

CocoLotionDec. 24, 11 9:51 AM

it's a bird's life...

elaineitoDec. 24, 1110:19 AM

Chickadees are tough little birds. I did some bird banding in the 1980's and remember chickadees would always take an extra second to bite your hand as you released them. Banders take measurements and other data that are age indicators. I don't know what this story has to do with the "MN system of education".

dpnickelDec. 24, 11 2:53 PM

I now know the reason I enjoy feeding & watching birds, it is because they are smarter and more interesting than some of the people making comments on informational stories such as this article.

tokyosueDec. 25, 11 1:42 AM

Thank you for a happy holiday story. I am a devoted backyard bird-watcher, and chickadees are the most common - and so delightful - visitors to my bird feeders.