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Platte River Status: A fairly common permanent resident. Resident in Lincoln County although apparently more numerous in winter suggesting some migration into the area (Tout 1947).

Breeding Range: Fairly common and evenly distributed across the Platte River Valley. Uncommon and local on the Eastern Plain and Dissected Plain. Rare and local on the Western Plain and in the Sandhills.

Breeding Population: The population in 1979-1980 was estimated at 3,120 nesting pairs.

Habitat: We found the highest mean nesting density in shelterbelts (27.0 pairs/km²), followed by lowland forest (5.5 pairs/km²) and river channel island (0.5 pairs/km²). Faanes and Andrew (1983) recorded highest nesting densities on a northeastern North Dakota study area in willow shrub and mature quaking aspen forest. Odum (1941) stated that black-capped chickadees occupy a wide range of habitats including second-growth deciduous forest, intermediate seral stages, mature hardwood forest, advanced seral stages, and conifer groves. Graber and Graber (1963) reported highest densities in northern Illinois from edge habitats.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Black-capped chickadee has benefited from de-watering of the Platte River system and the subsequent encroachment of wooded vegetation within the river channel. Shelterbelt establishment in agricultural areas has benefited this species as shown by the highest nesting densities occurring there.

Nesting Data: On 11 May 1984, Lingle observed an adult carrying food enter a nest cavity at the Mormon Island Crane Meadows, Hall County. We found an active nest in a shelterbelt in Hall County in mid-May 1978. Three nests found 25 April, 2 May and 23 May each contained seven eggs. Egg dates in Kansas extend from 21 March to 10 June, with a peak in mid to late April (Johnsgard 1979). Rising (1974) stated that eggs are laid in western Kansas during mid-April to early May.