In addition to providing supplemental food all year at a backyard feeder, yardeners can support local chickadee populations by planting ornamental plants on their property that provide food and shelter.
Trees and Shrubs:
| Chickadees Dig These Plants | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alder | beech | elm | hemlock |
| sweet gum | birch | holly | spruce |
| pine | blueberry | serviceberry | bayberry shrubs |
Flowers that bear seeds:
| Chickadee Type Flowers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Asters | coneflowers | coreopsis |
| Gaillardias | sunflowers | zinnias. |
Do not forget that all birds need a source of fresh water. In the North it is difficult for them to find it, because ponds and puddles are usually frozen. Locate birdbaths in the sun or use a electric heater to melt ice. Run a waterfall or fountain in the water garden to prevent it from freezing in all but the most severe weather.
