<\/span><\/h2>\nAn article on attracting chickadees would not be complete without discussing water. All birds need clean water for drinking and bathing. They need water in both summer and winter–all year round.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, bird baths can foul quickly. Algae, bacteria, mold, leaves and dirt, mosquitoes. All these can pollute your bird’s water. When you buy a birdbath, make sure you also buy a sturdy scrub brush and a bottle of 10% bleach solution (hydrogen peroxide is an alternative). Then, plan on cleaning it up to 3 times per week in summer. If you are unable or unwilling to keep your birdbath clean, then it would be better not to have one. A dirty birdbath can spread disease to the birds.<\/p>\n
A simple birdbath you purchase at the local garden department is likely to be too deep for many smaller birds. Encourage small birds to use your bird bath by placing a large flat stone so that it is just below the surface. Place a branch or perch just above the water so the birds don’t even have to get their feet wet to get a drink. Most decorative fountains and birdbaths are too big, and circulate too much water, to make birds comfortable using them. They also may be too smooth. Birdbaths should be rough so that birds will not slip.<\/p>\n Black-capped Chickadee by Jocelyn Anderson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nChickadees and other birds are really attracted to dripping water. Not necessarily a solid flow, but a trickle or drip. I have seen a two-tiered solar-powered birdbath that might be perfect. There are also solar bubblers. So many options!<\/p>\n
Birds need drinking water in winter. Consider a heated bird bath if you live where water freezes in winter.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Wrapping Up<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\nIf you live in the northern half of the US or Canada, attracting Black-capped Chickadees to your backyard and feeder is usually not difficult. In fact, the curious chickadees may be the first birds to visit your new feeders.<\/p>\n
Even if the surrounding neighborhood is bare of thickets or tall trees you may be able to attract chickadees to your backyard by planting fast growing hedges or leafy trees. These birds tend to spread out into more habitats in winter. So even if it appears there aren’t any chickadees near your home, some may wander by in winter. One they find your feeder they’re likely to be a regular visitor.<\/p>\n
Peanuts, peanut butter, black oil sunflower seeds and suet will quickly be noticed by any chickadees that happen by. Feed the sunflower seeds from a tube feeder, perhaps with a squirrel baffle or cage around it.<\/p>\n
And don’t forget to add water to your bird feeding station. A heated birdbath may be appreciated in northern climes. And make sure there is a shallow portion of the birdbath for smaller birds.<\/p>\n
You can even put up a nest box and possibly enjoy hosting a Black-capped Chickadee family for the summer.<\/p>\n
I certainly hope that Black-capped Chickadees become regular visitors to your backyard and feeder!<\/p>\n
<\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><\/h2>\nHow rare is a black-capped chickadee?<\/strong><\/p>\nContrary to what the name might suggest, Black-capped Chickadees are not particularly rare birds!<\/strong> In fact, they are considered one of the most common and widespread songbirds in North America.<\/p>\nHere’s a breakdown of their abundance:<\/p>\n
Range and Population:<\/strong><\/p>\n\nBlack-capped Chickadees are found across much of Canada and the northern United States, encompassing a vast territory.<\/li>\n Estimates suggest their population size in the hundreds of millions, making them incredibly abundant.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nHabitat Preferences:<\/strong><\/p>\n\nAdaptable and versatile, they thrive in various habitats, including deciduous and mixed forests, woodlands, parks, and even backyards.<\/li>\n This wide range of suitable habitats further contributes to their population stability and widespread presence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nHow do Black-capped Chickadees survive winter?<\/strong><\/p>\nBlack-capped Chickadees are fascinating little birds that manage to not only survive harsh winters but thrive in these seemingly unforgiving conditions. Here’s a closer look at their impressive winter survival strategies:<\/p>\n
Staying Warm:<\/strong><\/p>\n\nDense Feathers:<\/strong> They possess a thick layer of fluffy feathers that provide excellent insulation, trapping warm air close to their bodies.<\/li>\nFluffing Up:<\/strong> When temperatures drop, they fluff up their feathers even more, creating a thicker layer of air to combat the cold.<\/li>\nShivering:<\/strong> Yes, they even shiver! This controlled muscle movement generates heat to help counteract the cold environment.<\/li>\nHuddling:<\/strong> Sometimes, especially on very cold nights, chickadees may huddle together in cavities or nest boxes to share body heat, similar to penguins!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nWhat is the lifespan of a Black-capped Chickadee?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe lifespan of a Black-capped Chickadee varies depending on various factors, but in general, their average lifespan is between 2 and 3 years<\/strong> in the wild. However, it’s important to note that this is just the average, and some individuals can live much longer.<\/p>\nHere’s a breakdown of their lifespan:<\/p>\n
\nAverage Lifespan:<\/strong> 2-3 years<\/li>\nMaximum Recorded Lifespan:<\/strong> Over 11.5 years<\/li>\nFactors Affecting Lifespan:<\/strong>\n\nPredation:<\/strong> Birds of prey, small mammals, and reptiles are their main predators. The ability to avoid these threats significantly impacts their lifespan.<\/li>\nFood Availability:<\/strong> Access to sufficient food throughout the year, especially during harsh winters, is crucial for survival.<\/li>\nDisease and Parasites:<\/strong> Like all animals, they can succumb to various diseases and parasites, impacting their survival.<\/li>\nHarsh Weather:<\/strong> Extreme weather conditions can pose challenges and increase mortality rates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Chickadees are cute little acrobatic balls of fluff, a joy to have visit your backyard or bird feeder.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1812,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,6],"tags":[],"modified_by":"Imogen Warren","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=313"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1813,"href":"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313\/revisions\/1813"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1812"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=313"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=313"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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