There were several chickadees exploring and excavating these Scotch pines for insects. Many insects overwinter as larva or pupa under bark, underneath leaf litter, in twigs, vines, etc., and here you can see that the chickadee has found an insect cocoon. Chickadees, much as they like the seeds at our feeders, also like, and need, the protein that comes from eating insects. You can see them expertly probing all manner of vegetation, looking for insects. I've particularly noticed them working away at the dried DSV vines. Sometimes there will be 3 or 4 of them together diligently poking around in the vines and pulling out something so minute I can't see what it is they have. At any rate, we know that insects do use the DSV, but they appear not to be at all injurious to it. However... I suspect, from what I have heard, that we'll see a possible biocontrol agent in another 4 or 5 years.