Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) is very common in my garden and surrounding common areas of my subdivision. This little black and white bird is fairly easy to spot and can make quit a lot of noise which some say sounds like a very fast and high pitched chickadee dee dee. The above picture was taken a couple years ago when a pair decided to build a nest in my fountain. I was so excited to watch them fly in and out of the hand pump even though I have several bird houses all over my back and front yard Oak trees.
Carolina Chickadee spends a lot of time in my garden in the fall and winter especially since I have stalks of Blackeyed Susans and Coneflowers still standing. I do not clear out the ‘dead’ plants and leaf litter until very early spring just for the birds and insects that will use my seedheads and plant stalks as food and shelter.
The home of the Carolina Chickadee is most of the southern United States and the Black-capped Chickadee is the northern part of the United States. The Carolina Chickadee is smaller and has no white on the wings. There may be mixed species of Carolina and Black-capped Chickadees in states such as Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio where the borders for the Chickadees come together.
The Chickadee will fly to a bird feeder and grab a seed (usually sunflower seeds) and fly off to eat. They are quick little birds that will call to their mate when they find a suitable food source. In my yard and garden beds, I watch the Chickadee hunt for insects on the Oak trees along with the Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, and even the Wrens. A Chickadee will love a suet feeder or a birdfeeder with sunflowers and peanuts.
Attracting the birds is as easy as planting some Coneflowers and Blackeyed Susans and leaving up any other flower that produces seed in your fall garden. Creating a place for the birds to forage for seed and insects is what attracts them to your garden. Plus add a few birdhouses in safe, predator free zones helps too.
I love having the birds visit and hope you do too. You do not have to have bird feeders and can feed the birds planting many native flowers and bushes that bear fruit and berries.
Creating. Inspiring. Gardening without the rules!
2016 copyrighted material C Renee Fuller @The Garden Frog Boutique
Note: some refer to the Carolina Chickadee as Caroline Chickadee too
We had so many less birds last year. I hope this year is different.
carol recently posted…Organization Tips for Small Kitchens
I have been watching a decline too. I believe a lot has to do with many people spraying chemical pesticides killing off the insects. I hope they return in bigger numbers for you. thank you for stopping by
I love these little guys! I don’t see them in my new subdivision because we have very little tree cover now. I can’t wait until our trees grow big enough house birds!
Terri Oliver Steffes recently posted…Cook the Books Club: A Place at the Table
I am lucky to have established plants.I love Chickadees and glad they love all the flowers and plants I grow