Susan Smith in her book (The Black-capped Chickadee) on her chickadee  
research says: the fee-bee song's "probable function ........during  
non-breeding season...... is—  territorial advertisement?; stimulating  
female?; leading flock [kown]." Other studies show the fee-bee call  
may provide individual recognition.
She also says fee-bee calling can start in late Dec. (but Dr. Smith is  
in Massachusetts).

Elinor

Elinor Osborn Photography
PO Box 86     1286 Lost Nation Rd
Craftsbury Common VT 05827

802  586-9994
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www.agpix.com/osborn
www.elinorosbornphotography.com

On Jan 18, 2011, at 9:34 AM, V Frost wrote:

> I have heard this song in every month of the year and am no longer  
> convinced
> it's solely about breeding... maybe it's about being Chickadee :  ).  
> I have
> seen a Black-cap sing it in the whirl of a blizzard, as if answering  
> the
> wind. This is one bold little creature!
>
> On Tue, Jan 18, 2011 at 9:08 AM, Maeve Kim <[log in to unmask]>  
> wrote:
>
>> The snow is falling and we've had below zero mornings, but the  
>> chickadees
>> around my house are singing their "spring song". They started doing  
>> so last
>> week, consistent with the past several years. January 13 seems to  
>> be their
>> regular date for announcing that they're thinking ahead, past the  
>> cold of
>> winter, to courtship, territoriality, nesting and all the  
>> excitement of
>> spring..
>>
>> Maeve Kim
>> Jericho Center
>>
>
>
>
> -- 
> __________________________
> Veer Frost
> Passumpsic