By Melanie Brewer

Becoming an empty nester necessitated that I explore new interests. Since that year was 2020, my options were limited. But as the world was shutting down, I was opening my eyes to what was already around me. I noticed the mossy earth beneath my feet and the canopy of trees shading me from the sun and hosting birds singing and swooping. Long neglected landscaping with hardy anabelle hydrangeas, overgrown ground cover, and my great grandmother's “pinks” (phlox), longing to be nurtured. Returning to nature in my own backyard continues to be enjoyable and life-giving, both in the labor and the rest. I began the work of clearing, restoring, and creating the landscape which is still in progress. The bird calls and songs started to sound like music for my soul. I started learning to identify the birds using the Merlin app from Cornell Lab (not sponsored, just a great app!). Feeders, nesting boxes, binoculars, and photography came next. The first nesting box placed in our backyard, newly coined “the haven,” was for bluebirds. The second year, we finally had residents: Carolina chickadees. Our disappointment at the lack of bluebirds quickly turned to delight as we got to know these cute little birds who are amazingly curious, courageous, resourceful, and resilient. Here’s some of what we’ve learned about carolina chickadees: 

Habitat

Chickadees are year-round residents of the southeastern United States. They reside in various wooded areas, such as forests, parks, and well-wooded suburbs where they have access to food and shelter. 

Appearance

These chickadees are 4-5 inches long and weigh only 0.3-0.4 ounces! Their wingspan is 6-8 inches. They are easy to identify with their black cap and bib, white cheeks, and gray wings.

Songs and Calls

True to their name, chickadees often announce themselves with a “chick-a-d-d-d-d” call. They have multiple other calls and songs, commonly one of many variations of “hey sweetie” or “fee-bee”. These are used to maintain contact in a flock, establish dominance, defend territory, mate, and, of course, when young, beg for food.

Diet

Chickadees are skilled foragers and enjoy a diet of caterpillars, small insects, and fruits. At feeders, they enjoy black oil sunflower seeds, peanut chips, and suet. Chickadees hide sunflower seeds in the nooks and crannies of trees to return to later… and, impressively, remember where they have hidden them! During the breeding season, a set of parents may take 300-500 caterpillars per day to the nest box to feed their babies.

Nesting

Chickadees often nest in cavities found in dead trees. The nests are constructed with green moss and lined with mammal hair or plant fiber. They also use nest boxes with dimensions smaller than a bluebird house. In our nesting box, they lined it with green moss and it looked like the “hair” component was fur from our puppy! It is important to place a baffle on the pole beneath the nesting box to protect the box from predators such as snakes and raccoons. 

Baby ‘dees

In Tennessee, eggs are laid from mid-March through April. Chickadees average a “clutch” of 4-6 eggs, which hatch 14-15 days later. Both adults stay busy feeding the young. The young fledge, or leave the nest, after 17-18 days. The young then remain with their parents for two more weeks, then are off to start their own journeys.

When preparing your backyard for chickadee and other bird visitors, first and foremost, create a safe environment for these friends. Clean the feeders on a regular basis. Maintain fresh water sources. Keep cats indoors. Prevent window strikes by using decals or drawing with washable markers. Limit or eliminate use of “-cides,” including pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. This summer, take a moment to observe the activity already going on around you, whether at home or at a local park. By simply “paying attention” I have gained so much joy. Though my daughters are out of the house, my “nest” is still full.