If there’s one wild creature in my world that represents the human-animal bond, it’s the chickadee.

The moment I step outside I hear them. Their calls (which are many) give me a sense of home and belonging.

They fly by my head, nearly touching me. They come close to me when I’m near a tree, coming down to the lower branches almost as if to say hi.

I’m never lonely because of them. I adore them in a way I cannot explain. They are ever-present no matter the season, even in our harsh winters.

Did you know that the songbirds you see outside of your house are always the same ones? They do not have large territories. I don’t know about most, but when I learnt that, it made me feel warm with wonder.