The black-capped chickadee is a small, energetic songbird found throughout much of North America. With their familiar “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call, these busy acrobats brighten up backyards and woodlands. Chickadees are curious, intelligent birds that readily come to feeders and are fun to have around. If you’d like to attract more chickadees to your yard or garden, here are some tips and techniques that chickadee enthusiasts have found effective.
Provide Food and Water Sources
One of the easiest ways to bring in more chickadees is to put up bird feeders. Black-capped chickadees eat both seeds and insects. Some good choices are tube feeders stocked with black oil sunflower seeds or mixed birdseed. Platform feeders with a seed mix will also attract chickadees. Make sure to get a feeder with small perches since chickadees have tiny feet.
You can also try suet feeders, which offer insect protein in the form of suet cakes or nuggets. Chickadees will cling to the suet feeder and nibble away. Look for suet made of insect and fruit bits rather than seed-based suet, which chickadees tend not to prefer.
In addition to feeders, consider planting some chickadee favorites in your garden like sunflowers for their seeds or berry-producing shrubs that will provide natural food sources. Dogwoods, viburnums, hollies, and elderberries are good choices.
Having a water source available is also important, as chickadees need to drink and bathe daily. A bird bath or mister provides water for drinking and bathing. Be sure to clean and refresh the water frequently.
Provide Nesting Sites
Chickadees are cavity nesters and look for places to nest in old woodpecker holes, natural tree hollows, or nest boxes. Putting up proper nesting boxes will encourage chickadees to take up residence.
Here are some tips on nest boxes for chickadees:
– Box dimensions: 4 inches x 4 inches floor, 6-8 inches deep
– Hole diameter: 1 1⁄4 inches
– Place box 6-15 feet high on a tree trunk
– Use untreated wood and avoid wood preservatives
– Face entry hole away from prevailing winds
– Add wood shavings or sawdust in the bottom
Having natural snags (dead trees) or old trees with holes and hollows in your yard will also provide potential nest sites. Chickadees prefer nesting sites in more secluded, wooded areas away from high traffic areas.
Provide Roosting Pockets
Chickadees roost in cavities overnight to stay warm and safe. You can make simple roosting pockets for them by drilling holes in a block of untreated wood or adding a nest box filled with wood shavings. Place roosting pockets 6-10 feet up in a protected spot near trees or shrubs. Make sure the entrance holes are 1-1 1⁄4 inches in diameter. Give chickadees a safe place to hunker down at night all season long.
Have Natural Vegetation and Landscaping
Chickadees prefer habitats with a mix of trees, shrubs, and brush. This allows them to hunt for insects among the foliage and find protected nesting spots. Allowing dead trees and brush piles to remain provides places for gleaning insects and taking shelter.
When landscaping your yard, choose native plants whenever possible. This gives chickadees natural food and nesting sources. Good native plants that attract chickadees include dogwoods, birch, elderberry, beech, oak, native hollies, and willow. Shrubs like wild rose and alder also provide habitat.
Avoid pruning hedges and trees too severely or over-manicuring your yard. Leave protected areas with natural cover for chickadees. Think diversity rather than rigid tidiness.
Offer Shelter from the Elements
Chickadees and other small birds lose body heat easily in harsh weather. You can help them survive winter by providing roosting pockets, brush piles, and even bird houses for extra protection from wind and cold. Make sure your feeders are in somewhat sheltered spots too.
In hot weather, position feeders in shadier areas and provide water. Chickadees appreciate a chance to cool down. Having plants for chickadees to nestle into is important year-round.
Strategically Place Feeders and Houses
Chickadees prefer wooded edges and areas between open spaces and cover. This allows them quick access between food sources and shelter. Place feeders and nest boxes along woodland borders, near thickets or shrubs, and in areas that give chickadees a combination of food, shelter, and low-traffic nesting spots.
If you have multiple feeders and houses, space them out to prevent crowding. Chickadees are territorial during breeding season. Give them options in different parts of your yard.
Avoid Using Pesticides
Chickadees eat both seeds and insects, so limiting use of pesticides is important. Pesticide residues can impact chickadees and reduce the insect food sources they rely on.
When pest management is needed, opt for natural solutions first. Remove pest breeding areas, use barriers, apply natural repellents, and encourage natural predators like bats, birds, green lacewings, and ladybugs. Also provide chickadees with natural insect foods.
Natural Insect Foods
– Suet feeders with insect or fruit bits
– Mealworms – dry or live
– Nyjer thistle seed has tiny insects inside
– Sunflower heads left on plants provide seeds and insects
– Larva and pupa from butterfly kits – let some emerge
– Water to attract flying insects
This will allow chickadees to supplement their diet with protein-rich insects while limiting pesticide exposure.
Observe Chickadees and Note Behavior
Take time to sit quietly and observe chickadees in your yard using the various feeders, houses, and natural food sources. Note their behavior patterns over time.
Watch for breeding activities in spring like males singing and excavating nest holes. In winter, observe roosting behavior and where they prefer to spend nights.
See if certain feeders or native plants get more traffic. Track activity at nest boxes. Replace boxes not being used. Move feeders where chickadees prefer to feed.
Customize your efforts based on patterns you notice. Chickadee-watching provides great entertainment too!
Avoid Loud Noises and Other Disturbances
Chickadees are sensitive to disturbances. Loud noises, dogs, cats, and high human activity make chickadees avoid an area.
Place feeders and nest boxes away from busy spaces. Limit vacuuming, mowing, leaf blowing, and other loud tasks in chickadee zones during nesting season. Keep pets away from nest boxes and fledglings.
Chickadees thrive best in peaceful settings. Minimize disruptions wherever possible.
Clean Feeders and Houses Regularly
Dirty bird feeders and contiminated water can spread diseases that sicken birds. Disinfect feeders and birdbaths monthly with one part bleach diluted in nine parts water.
Rinse thoroughly and let dry. Scoop out old, wet seed from feeders. Provide fresh water daily. Regular cleaning keeps your backyard chickadee flock happy and healthy.
Clean nest boxes out after each brood fledges. This removes old nesting material and parasites to give chickadees a fresh start next season. Handle boxes carefully when cleaning to avoid disturbing nests.
Feeder/House | Cleaning Frequency |
---|---|
Feeders | Monthly |
Bird baths | 2-3 times per week |
Nest boxes | After nesting season |
Provide Variety
Chickadees appreciate variety in their habitat. Different feeders, multiple nest boxes, diverse native plants, and assorted natural foods keep their interest. Rotate different feeder locations and offerings.
Try suet one week, hulled sunflowers the next. Use various seed mixes. Present novel elements to maintain curiosity. A diverse, changing habitat makes your yard more chickadee friendly.
Be Patient
It may take time for chickadees to discover and get accustomed to new feeders, houses, and habitat arrangements. Allow a few weeks for chickadees to find and get comfortable with additions.
They often visit new elements in quick, cautious forays at first. But with time, chickadees will warm up to changes. Persistence and patience pay off when encouraging chickadees.
Enjoy Chickadees!
Once attracted, chickadees will reward you with endless entertainment. Watching a troupe of acrobatic chickadees flitting about is a joy. Listening to their lively calls and songs lightens the spirit.
Provide habitat enhancements diligently, then sit back and enjoy the charming antics of chickadees in your yard. Get to know each one’s unique personality.
With thoughtful efforts to meet their needs, chickadees will brighten up your home for years to come. The rewards outweigh the work many times over. Soon, a cheery “chick-a-dee-dee” outside your window will make you smile and thank the chickadees for choosing your backyard.
Conclusion
Attracting beautiful, lively chickadees to your yard is very achievable. Start by assessing their basic habitat needs for food, water, shelter, nesting sites and natural vegetation. Provide chickadee-friendly feeders, nest boxes, water sources, and native plants. Observe chickadee behaviors and fine-tune elements to better suit them. Keep feeders and houses clean to prevent disease. Minimize disturbances and refresh habitat diversity. With some thoughtful efforts to meet chickadees’ needs, you can entice these charming birds to become long-term backyard residents. The joy of having chickadees animating your garden space makes the effort well worthwhile. Soon, the “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” calls of contented chickadees will brighten every day.