I am not a biologist; the following includes my beginner thoughts/conclusions after some of my internet research on birds. You might find these useful as a springboard for observing the birds & plants in your own neighbourhood. I go for walks around mine almost every day & some of my observations over the past 4 years are also included.
The chickadees are some of my favorite *common birds (*species that many of us see every day). “Common birds…have suffered the greatest [bird population] losses” according to a recent (2019) study. Chickadees are full of energetic personality; for their very small size they seem rather fearless. If we would not like to see the birds dwindle away, there are fairly simple things we can do to help them. Noting them & raising awareness that many birds are decreasing at quite an alarming rate is a good start. Other suggestions include:
When we own a garden (or can have input regarding the common gardens at our apartment or condo buildings), we can ask for planting of native bushes & flowers (to add landscaping interest & also provide nectar, seeds, berries, & insects that may be rather vital for local & migrating birds to rely on). They also give the birds shelter & places to rest & raise their young. Local garden stores & landscaping companies may be able to suggest native plants that are local-birds-friendly. And I wonder if we might ask for even a few weeks’ delay when gardening services cut the landscaping plants back before cold season (so that the birds have a longer chance to harvest them before things are pruned & the clippings whisked away).
In recent years news articles for my area encourage us to *provide the city birds some bird food in harsh colder weather, to help more of them survive. We might put up a bird feeder (if no local rules prohibit this & no one is raising chickens close by). For coldest weather suet blocks for wild birds can be found including at dollar discount & pet supply stores, & some supermarkets.
*A note of caution though, since avian flu has generally been circulating. If noting any bird acting ill around a bird feeding area (e.g. acting disoriented or drooling), I would strongly suggest to stop feeding there promptly, since species congregating at a feeding spot may spread a bird illness.
More ways to make locations more bird friendly:
– I like cats. Though since “cats are estimated to kill more than 2.6 billion birds annually in the USA & Canada”; their hunting is a top reason for loss of birds (they hunt/kill birds “even when well fed”). Can we possibly keep the family cat(s) indoors, within a catio enclosure, or put a bell on their collar? (bell warnings = more baby birds surviving?)
– Various window treatments make windows safer for birds, since “up to 1 billion birds are estimated to die each year after hitting windows in the USA & Canada”. Solutions like stickers & tape (even post-it notes?) generally need to go on the outside of the window for birds to see them. I sometimes put bright gel stickers from my local pharmacy on the outside of my windows, though I now avoid red stickers (hummingbirds hovered over them on snowy days & I don’t have a hummingbird feeder).
– Pesticides can be lethal to birds & the insects birds consume.& “more than 1 billion pounds of pesticides are applied in the USA each year”. We can try to reduce pesticides around home & garden. Purchasing organic food whenever possible can also help.
We can make a difference & it can feel rewarding to see increased neighbourhood bird populations within just a few years.