Chickadee’s tenacity to stick around through cold winters are one of the characteristics we love about them! They’re one of those classic “Christmas card” birds, and perk up the winter scene in many Midwestern yards. Make your backyard welcoming to these birds, and encourage them to stay all year long.
Chickadee’s typically live on a diet of around 90% insects during the summer; that decreases by about half in winter as insects become scarce. Help your feathered friends fill in the protein in their diets over winter – it’s the most crucial time of the year for chickadees’ food supply. The cold winter weather increases the amount of energy required by birds simply to survive. Chickadees will spend up to three-quarters of the day searching for food. Offer them Bird Grub, all high in essential fat and protein. Chickadees also eat seeds in winter. Peanuts are an especially good source of protein.
Even more crucial than good food stores is an available water supply. If you keep a birdbath, be sure to add an immersion-style heater, such as the Ice Eliminator to keep the water from freezing. Your Chickadees will have water for drinking and be able to keep their feathers clean and fluffy to provide insulation for warmth. Be sure to clean the bath and refill with fresh water often.
So, where do these birds nest down for the winter? Chickadees typically look for shelter among pine trees, or an unoccupied nest box left standing from the prior nesting season. They will also take cover in birdhouses – try a roomy variety that allows Chickadees to huddle together en masse for warmth.