Of all North American wildlife, birds are often the most accessible. 

The diverse variety of species and their ability to live within close proximity of humans makes them accessible even in urban settings. It’s no wonder that bird watching is one of the fastest-growing outdoor activities in North America. 

Birds are one of the easier forms of wildlife to attract to your backyard. To attract a variety of birds, consider their need for food, water, shelter, and space. 

One bird you’ll likely have no trouble attracting is the black-capped chickadee. When it comes to bravery, no bird has it beat. Thanks to feeders and nest boxes, the black-capped chickadee currently has little threat to its population. 

This small bird—10 to 15 cm from top to tail—is easily recognizable. Males and females look almost exactly alike. Both have a solid black cap and bib, and white cheeks. Their back and wings are dark greenish-gray, with some streaks of white and black. 

The chickadee doesn’t migrate south; it can be found year-round in wooded areas across all of the northern United States. It makes its home in holes of soft or rotting wood of trees. 

Known for its various and recognizable vocalizations, this cheerful bird was named for its characteristic "chickadee-dee-dee." It makes a variety of cheeps and twittering notes. Through its varied vocalizations the chickadee scolds, challenges, expresses alarm, sends greetings, and sings. 

The black-capped chickadee typically lives between three and five years with hawks and the northern shrike among its most dangerous enemies. In addition, weasels, chipmunks, and squirrels enter nests and eat the eggs or young birds. Cold winters actually kill more birds than predators do because the chickadee is small, agile, and alert, making it very hard to catch. 

From sunrise to sunset, the chickadee spends most of its time feeding on insects and spiders. Caterpillars are preferred in the breeding season. Thanks to its amazing memory, the chickadee can find food that it has hidden up to 28 days later. Because it feeds in such large quantities, it is easily one of the most important pest exterminators of the forest. The black-capped chickadee also helps farmers by eating insects that are harmful to crops. This hardy little creature fills our forests with song and life even in winter. 

To attract chickadees and other birds to your backyard, try planting a variety of shrubs. It is the best way to meet the diverse needs of various bird species. By providing additional food through feeders you can provide a greater assortment of food. 

Here are some tips to keeping your feathered friends happy: 

• A greater variety of plants will attract a greater diversity of birds, so include a mixture of taller and shorter trees, shrubs, native flowers and grasses. 
• Diversify the height, leaf type, and food (fruit, berries and nuts) provided by the plants in your garden. 
• Plant shrubs and trees that provide berries well into the winter to attract fruit eating birds such as waxwings. 
• Feeders must be well located – keep them near shelter providing shrubs. 
• Allowing flowers such as sunflowers, goldenrod, thistles or daisies to go to seed will attract finches, juncos, sparrows and other seed eating birds. 
• Separating food types and feeders will give smaller birds a chance to eat without being scared away by the larger birds. 
• A favorite food choice is sunflower seeds. These attract purple finches, cardinals, goldfinches, grosbeaks, juncos, chickadees nuthatches and many others. 
• A source of fresh water is very important to birds. Bird baths should be shallow (less than 6 cm deep), preferably with gradually sloping sides to allow birds to wade in. If you already have a source of water but it is too deep, you can add rocks for birds to stand on