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Battle for birdhouse

15 years ago

I've got a east facing birdhouse that the bluebirds love sitting on top of to catch the morning sun. I've noticed that the chicadees have put a nest in it and this morning there was a battle outside the hole for access to it. Seems like a pretty even fight, they're about the same size, but would prefer the bluebirds. Any ideas on how to ensure bluebirds and not chickadees?

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Comments (3)

dzyg
15 years ago
Chickadees are much smaller than Bluebirds and will not win in a fight over the box. Are you sure they are Dees if you are saying they are the same size, Bluebirds are a good 2 inches larger than Dees and much bigger around too. If the Dees already have a nest you could add a 1 1/8 inch hole reducer to the box so that the Bluebirds could not enter it, although sometimes Dees will abandon a nest if you do that before they lay eggs but sometimes they accept it. You could then install another box for the Blues at least 30 feet from the Dee box. Then you could have both Blues and Dees. I love both Blues and Dees. Good luck!

Donna
bandjzmom
15 years ago
Well, if the Chickadee nest is already there, you can't do anything but let them hash it out between themselves. The Blues are quite a bit larger than Chickadees. I am assuming that you are positive that it's Chickadees you've got and not House Sparrows. Sometimes, the Blues will run the Chickadees off and claim the box, but if the sweet little Chickadees already have eggs, they will fight really hard to try to prevent that. If it is Chickadees you have there, one thing you can do (for future nestings) is to put up a "Chickadee box" that is especially for them. The entrance hole is really small. They seem to know immediately when a box is intended just for them, and they will quickly use them. HTH ~~Angie
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lisa11310
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Chickadees are wonderful little birds and will get along with Blues nesting in their territory, put up another box!!!!

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