Chickadees do a snake attempt which is kinda like a hissing to scare predators away. From the start of the nest to laying eggs, incubation, hatching and fledging it does take a bit. Sounds like the momma was in the box and incubating yet. I sure hope you didn't break any eggs in the attemps to get the nest out. How does this box open? Why did you need a stick to try to pull the nest out? Just curious cause if the momma Dee was sitting on eggs I would think if you opened the box and looked you would be able to see her.

Donna

My husband used a stick I think honestly because he was worried it just put his hand in there in case (as it seems) some really was there. I'm fairly certainly no harm was done if eggs are in there because he barely touched the nest before we got that reaction.

I REALLY don't think it was a mama in there... the box opens completely so you can see the nest from the side and top... i know the chickadees are small but they aren't that small! And we always knock on the side before opening so we don't scare the mamas (and no sound is heard inside when we knock). If anyone is in there it must be the hatchlings but it is seriously impossible to see anything in the nest, though, like I said... we have a very good view.

My concern is that an insect or other unwanted creature is in there... the sound doesn't occur unless we touch the nest.

If you cannot see the contents of the nest, you can either use a chair or ladder to peek in, or you can use a mirror held over the nest.

I would get hubby , a bucket with soft towel in it and a hamburger flipper and thick gloves. Slide the flipper under the nest and hold top of nest with gloved hand. Gently place nest in the bucket (that hubby is holding up to the box). You can investigate the nest, then look in the box for bees/wasps,snake, etc. If you find nothing put the nest back in and keep watching.

I have been in that situation with a Bluebird box also. Thought the nest was empty and found it moving! Very surprised to find a nest of Flying Squirrels. They were awesome to watch!

We had something similar happen to us and what it turned out to be in the nest was a large bee. It would not hiss when we knocked on the box but when we opened it and tried to take out the nesting material, we would here a hissing buzzing sound. Yep, it was a large bumble bee! Just be very careful and do exactly as lisa posted above.

Linda

Chickadees absolutely hiss when they feel threatened (as do titmice). In the future it would be wise to thoroughly check a box before trying to remove the nest. :) I mounted my bluebird box a bit high (will be lower it when the bluebirds are done with it) so for the time being I either have to use a little step-stool or a mirror to peer into it. I bought an extendable auto mirror at Ace Hardware that is perfect, as the head swivels and I can tilted it to see the inside of the nest. Congrats on your chickadees! They are wonderful birds!

Thanks for everyone's tips. We are going to try the bucket idea tomorrow. (thanks, Lisa!)

Also: I don't mean to sound rude but I don't really appreciate people's comments about how I should have checked more thoroughly before trying to move the nest. I am not an idiot. Would you like to come to my house and look? You absolutely positively CANNOT SEE anything in there. No step stool or mirror can change that. We have no desire to cause harm to these birds but at some point you gotta do something. We are concerned (and apparently, with good reason, since other people have found bees in nests before) that there just plain aren't birds in there! If so, we're not doing the birds any favors by sitting around and waiting.

So please, be kind with your words and don't assume before you make comments like that. When you say things like that, people feel incompetent and uncomfortable.

Thank you.

I am so sorry if I offended you. When you said there may be baby birds in there that you cannot see, I assumed you meant that because the nest was deep, you couldn't see inside it standing on the ground. I know I need a ladder or a mirror to see inside. I certainly did not mean to offend you. I was just giving advice based on my own experience. Apparently I misunderstood your question. Please accept my apologies.

Wondering what you found?

I wasn't trying to be unkind. I too must have misunderstood your initial post. I'm sorry my advice offended you.

It was bees... one bee came out as we were removing the nest it went right for me and I ran like crazy!! lol... we've emptied it, sprayed it with bee killer and we'll be cleaning it thoroughly after. Bah... that wasn't fun.

Yikes on the bees!! I have heard others that have had Chickadee nests taken over by a bee. They must like the mossy nests that the Dees use. Hopefully you will still get some BLues interested in the box now that it is bee free.

Donna

My husband looked it up and, sure enough, queen bumblebees will build nests inside bird houses out of moss. We're not sure we ever actually had any birds.

Any tips on keeping the bees out next time around??

You mean the bees actually bring the moss in there? I never knew that! I have no clue on how to keep them out if they can build their own nest. Hope they stay away though!

Donna

I have no experience with this but have read to put bar soap on the inside top of the box to keep the bees out.

Nicknack...I think this is a different kind of bee that nests in the mossy stuff. The soap on top is for those bees that make those hanging nests.

Donna

Thank you Donna. I wasn't sure.

This is excatly what happened to me, as I stated above, although the nest I found the bumble bee in wasn't inhabited by Dees, at least not yet, but there was some nesting material inside, so one of my backyard birds had started getting ready but most likely abandoned it due to the bee. I know how you felt, it was scary, not knowing where the bee was hiding or whether or not it would try to sting me. I'm just glad that you got to the bottom of it and that nobody was hurt in the process.

Linda