OK to check boxes every day?

15 years ago

Hi all,

I know that bluebirds don't care that much if you open their boxes and check things out. But what about chickadees? Is every day too often? Thanks!

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Comments (3)

creeper
15 years ago
Why would you look anyway? No reason to risk them leaving the nest just to satisfy your curiosity, is there?
lisa11310
15 years ago
Deanie. There is quite a bit of info about Chickadees on the sialis.org web site. I encourage you to read up. I don't check on cool, windy or rainy days and of course never to close to fledging. My Dees are quite social and are used to me. I think every few days is good unless you suspect something may be wrong. I listen for peeping at feeding time and check the outside of the box and the ground daily. Dees are very vocal if there is something going on in or near the box they don't like (they hate Chipmunks and Wrens). There is always good info on the Bluebirding forum for Dees TRES and other cavity nesters.
Creeper, nest checks are an important part of providing safe housing. Lots of things (like blowfly,wasps or ants) can put the babies in danger. A good landlord keeps a watchful eye on the babies and knows what to do in emergency situations.
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bandjzmom
15 years ago
I wouldn't check them every day Deanie just because that might make the parents too nervous. I agree with Lisa. Every few days (3-4) is OK. Mine don't seem to mind that. One year, a Bumblebee got into my Chickadee nest box. The poor little Dees had 7 beautiful eggs and had abandoned the next due to the mean nesting Bumble. It was sad. If I had not been checking the box, I wouldn't have known. That Bumble was promptly evicted, and the box was used by nesting Chickadees that summer. I would assume that it was not the same pair that had the failure there. I am an advocate of checking up on my cavity nesters, just in case something is going awry and I may be able to help.~Angie

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OK to check boxes every day?

Comments (3)

creeper

lisa11310

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