I screwed up, advise please

16 years ago

I was watching the chicadee sit next to the birdhouse opening watching a big bumble bee coming out and chasing it. thought I would help since I eradicated bumble bees from a birdhouse before. Took it down, and found four eggs, one fell out and broke, put it back up right away, but haven't seen the chicadee, why were the eggs lose, and will the wrens come and destroy the chicadee nest is it does come back. I am so upset that I did this.

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Comments (10)

gailuvscats
Original Author
16 years ago
Good news, the chicadee is back guarding the house, but the bumble bee keeps trying to get in, is there something I can put up to prevent the bumble bee from going in there?
paulsiu
16 years ago
I have never see a bumblebee be a problem, is there a nest in the nest already?

Here's what I found on the net.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bumblebee and nest
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dzyg
16 years ago
Was there a nest in the house? Did you touch the eggs? Are the other three back in the nestbox? If you touched the eggs oil from you skin can prevent the eggs from developing. As far as the bee, you will need to get rid of it or the Dee will abandon the nest.

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gailuvscats
Original Author
16 years ago
No more chicadee, she never came back after last night. she did go in and out a few times, I thought maybe laying more eggs, but it is miday now, and she has not been there all day. I really screwed it up. I feel really bad. The eggs were probably cracked, and they were in the palm of my hand briefly. I am so stupid, never thought there were eggs in there. Oh well, live and learn. Hopefully, someone will read this before they start being over zealous.
kendra2003
16 years ago
You are certainly not stupid! Being over zealous at the beginning is pretty normal. Sometimes we panic. You were trying to do the right thing. I would not give up yet. If she is still laying, and that is a distinct possibility with only four eggs, she may be back tomorrow to lay another. A single bumblebee checking out the nest will not start building in there if there is a bird nesting. More than likely the bird will eat the bee. If it were me, I would peek in again in a few days and see if there are more eggs. If there are then put up a sparrow spooker. If not, then she has probably abandoned it.
janie_may
16 years ago
Since this nest was accidentally interrupted, it's very possible they'll nest again. I'd get the box cleaned out a.s.a.p. and be sure to bag that nest and dispose of it just in case the bee (probably a carpenter bee) has laid eggs in the moss. Carpenter bees are attracted to moss. I've had a problem with one going in my dee box that had eggs but I was able to stand guard all day (no joke) with a fly swatter and the bee finally gave up.

I'm sorry that happened but it was an accident and you were trying to help. Had the bee remained, she would have abandoned the eggs (or even babies had that been the case).
gailuvscats
Original Author
16 years ago
Still no action, I put up another bird house, around 5 feet away, just because. I read that dees do not return to an interuppted site, not sure if that means the house or the location. I do have wrens, not here yet, but soon.
next year I will do better. so sad,.
Elly_NJ
16 years ago
It is so early in the season, they will renest.
User
16 years ago
If what you saw was a true bumblebee it won't "nest" in a birdhouse. They "nest" underground. And the bird would probably have eaten the bee,eventually.
The bird may have been a first year nester and inexperienced. It's early in the season and I'm sure she'll start again. Just clean out the house completely so it'll be a fresh start for another bird.
Good luck!
rachel_frome_ky
16 years ago
That is so sad! I've had wasps drive out Chickadees before despite my soaking the box ceiling with vegetable oil during the winter. Gail says she uses wax to discourage wasps, but don't know what would discourage carpenter bees