Not Seeing Many Chickadees

2010 has turned out to be a good year for most of our species, but not the Carolina Chickadees. Since spring we have seen few of them, and not frequently. It may be they had a bad breeding season or perhaps predators nailed them such that we didn't notice. Either way, it's quite a surprise that such a common and familiar bird almost seems exotic. Assuming no Chickadees adapt to our backyard who might be from "other territories", it will have to be a while before the group can be replenished. Happily, their cousins the titmice will keep us more than entertained!