Scolding, The - Chickadees and Screech Owl

The Scolding depicts one of those small domestic dramas that we all encounter every now and then; the only difference is that this is a wilderness drama. The chickadees are "mobbing" or "scolding" the screech owl, who had tried to hide deep in the boughs of a tree during the day. Chickadees, however, are so little and delicate that the word "mob" really doesn't seem to fit them.

Birds very often mob owls, partly because the owls are a threat to them and partly because owls are at rest during the day. After discovering a predator such as this owl, the birds will all come around and scold it -- jumping and fluttering and making noise -- so that everyone knows where the owl is concealed.

Visually, I was most intrigued with the latticed background of this scene. It was so lively, in fact, with its snow-festooned branches, that I used strong contrast on the chickadees; they would not otherwise have popped out from the background. I chose a close-up view of the scolding to emphasize the unfolding drama.