Brown Creeper- Certhia americana
by Bryce W. Robinson
It was a bitter cold day here in Boise, but the Brown Creepers seemed content. I found a few flitting about, feeding along the Boise River. They were so cooperative, or they were entranced with the task of feeding themselves such that they didn’t, or couldn’t mind my attention.
Either way, I was lucky. I managed this photo of a creeper, about to consume a small meal, and move on to the next. What a great bird to watch and enjoy.
ornithologi.com 
I would humbly suggest that the creepers out there today were so cold and calorie starved that they didn’t really care about anything other than raising their metabolic intake (i.e., feeding); we can anthropomorophize and say they wanted to give us a nice picture, but there is usually a good reason if they just sit there unnaturally…
By the way, did I mention I’m a reductionist. You,on the other hand, seem to obsessed with detail. Hmmm, perhaps, we can meet somewhere in the middle that does some good for the birds.
I think you’re spot on with the energy starved birds Steve. I don’t think they are affected by human presence though, as they are often along the river, a very busy place. So perhaps they are unaffected, not noticing humans so long as the humans do not notice them.
Oh man, I am so jealous you got such a great shot! I saw lots of those little guys up in NorCal but was never able to get a good shot of them. The lighting was always horrrrible under the redwood canopy.
Lighting is tricky in the Redwoods Melissa. Sorry to make you jealous, but I am glad it reminded you of some interactions among the giants.
I’d love to get this close to one of these interesting birds. Don’t even have a shot of one in my files. Good on ya, Bryce.
Thanks Ron. When I’ve found them in the past, they’ve always been a cooperative subject like these birds. You’ll have to head up Millcreek Canyon sometime, and take a saunter around one of the picnic areas. I’d sure love to see what photos you’d come away with.
From the All About Birds site:
“Brown Creepers burn an estimated 4–10 calories (technically, kilocalories) per day, a tiny fraction of a human’s daily intake of about 2,000 kilocalories. By eating a single spider, a creeper gains enough energy to climb nearly 200 feet vertically.”
Great picture!
Patty
Thanks for the info Patty!