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Bluebirds checking out box chickadees are using!

17 years ago

Hi, I am new here and need advice. Two of the boxes I have have been claimed by Carolina chickadees; one has a complete nest with no eggs, and one has just the beginning of a nest. I saw bluebirds checking out the box with the partial nest today- should I do anything? I am worried, too, about the complete nest. I have read that using a hole restrictor before eggs have been laid can scare off the chickadees, but I would hate for the blues to go in and take over. I have other boxes which at this point are still empty, should I wait and see if the blues move to one of those? Should I move one of the empty boxes closer to the box I saw them investigating? Sorry for the length; any advice is very appreciated!!

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Comments (2)

bigmatt
17 years ago
Are you sure the completed nest has no eggs?Chickadees will cover their eggs when leaving the nest.DON'T poke around the nest to check.I always use a 1 1/8" reducer on all my houses that Chickadees choose.I have never had any abandon the nest,But I always install it after I am sure eggs have been laid.If if were me I would keep a eye on them for a few days.When you are sure eggs have been layed ,install the reducer.As far as the nest that has just been started,If the blues do take it over,a least the Chickadees can still use the empty box you have.I have never used a reducer during nest building.
kerr524
17 years ago
I had the same thing happen this week. I checked 3 days ago and found a momma chickadee sitting on a completed nest in my bluebird box, but I didn't see any eggs. The past two days, however, it appears a bluebird pair has moved in/taken over. The chickadees have used the box successfully the last two years, now it appears its the bluebirds turn. I'm afraid to do anything for fear of scaring them all away, so I'm just watching to see what happens. Hopefully I'll clean out the nest when the bluebirds are done and the chickadees can use the box then! Good luck!
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