My Dees have always been so easy going. I only have notes from 2006 and the 9 hatched 13 days after the last egg was laid. So actually 15 days from when you started counting. The first year I had them was 2005 but didnt know to take notes yet. They did not nest with me the last two years so I am thrilled to have them back! 6 eggs and incubating since Sunday. Tres hatched today!Blues ready to fledge Sunday/Monday. So I will have babies for quite some time yet. :D

Are landlords supposed to check on 'dee nests? Aren't dee's scared off easily?

Elly I find the Dees are the most friendly birds. You scolded me my first month here (years ago) for looking in on the Dees, but they know me, eat from my hand in the winter and we talk to each other all the time. I know their distress and warning calls and always go running it's usually a Chipmonk...they hate them! These Dees sit on the feeder while I am filling it. Im in the yard a lot. You may be right with Dees that are not used to much human contact.

Donna, that photo is FABULOUS! Looking back at my records, my dees normally hatch in a one to two day period and usually on days 13 and 14.

Elly, I think checking on dees depends on how much time you spend in your yard and how used to seeing you your dees are. My dees are much (MUCH) friendlier to me than the bluebirds. I have always monitored them but only as "need be" so I'll know when eggs are laid and when they're due to hatch and fledge. I opened the box this time to find one baby 22 DAYS OLD and with a foot hopelessly stuck in nesting material. Had I not sensed that something was wrong (he/she should have fledged days before) he would not have survived. I removed him,nest and all, soaked the foot for 10 minutes to "unstuck" it and put him back in the box. His parents came after him within 15 minutes. It's a miracle they had continued to feed him for that long after the others had fledged but I'm sure glad they did. I kept thinking that those dees (thinking none had fledged) sure were fledging late and of course did not want to open the box at that late date but sometimes you have to go with your gut and take a look when things don't seem to be going well.

Donna, hope you see hatching soon!

Lisa, I thought that I read on this forum that some birds are more sensitive to disturbances than others. All I know about nest-box monitoring I learn from this forum.

I respect and appreciate the efforts (and results!) of bluebird landlords, who reestablished EABBs in the eastern US. I do question, personally, the monitoring of other songbirds whose populations are not in trouble; my concern, also, is that some people, way less knowledgeable than the pros here, will think that they can and should monitor all nests, including cup nests.

On the BWF, someone took a picture of almost fledged 'dees. I worry about flushing out chicks that age. Not that anyone knowledgeable on this forum would do it, but you all know your stuff. Many people glean information from forums instead of researching, and cannot keep their hands out of nests.

Not that I am "scolding" anyone; it's just what I think of, as a visitor, when I come here. Not everyone knows there stuff. But I guess we can't help that.

My instincts and background urge me to leave nests alone (except EABBs), because unknowingly, we create more trouble than help with birds that are doing well already, and need the experience of nesting failures to get them right in other tries. Although Janie's save is impossible to argue with!! But Janie, your gut (sorry for the metaphor) is greater than most other's : )

Which nest boxes then are you supposed to not check? Which species was I thinking of?

Thanks!

Hey Elly, I look at it this way, if I am offering nestboxes in my yard I feel it is my job to make sure that the birds that use the nestboxes stay safe. I keep records of who is nesting in what box, when the eggs were laid, how many and when incubations starts, when hatching is and when fledging should be. I never check after the no peek day for any species of cavity nesting birds. This way I can maybe help prevent any problems and understand why problems arose. I always have my camera when monitoring and will take pics at times. The Chickadee is the lowest of low on the totem pole of who gets a nestbox and seems to have many failures. Had I not been monitoring the Dee nestbox at nestbuilding time and again at egg laying time the Dees would have lost the box and possibly 2 eggs to the wrens.

I think the picture you are talking about on the BWF is from a nestcam not from him opening the nestbox.

I agree not everyone should be monitoring nestboxes, only those who are knowledgable on the species nesting in. I have learned alot over the years from this forum and the sialis site.

Donna

Donna, thanks for the insider's perspective.

But wasn't there a nester that landlords here would look at once and then leave alone? or am I imagining it?

Tree swallows?

Elly, I've only hosted bluebirds, Carolina chickadees and Brown Headed nut hatches. I monitor all but mainly to be sure all is well inside the box.

The first nest the chickadees build was infested with sweet ants to the point that I had to remove it (broke my heart, it was just beautiful) and only hope they'd rebuild which they did, in record time since she was probably ready to lay when the ants got in. I think they carried in the ants in the moss that they were using. We'd had so much rain at that time. I always try to keep up with first and last egg laid and hatching days. Other than that, I keep an eye on the box and can usually tell that things are OK just be watching the adults when they come and go.

My bluebirds have been known to actually make body contact, dive bombing me, so I always dread monitoring them and do it as little as possible and as quickly as possible. :D And.... I wear a big HAT!

The nuthatches are hysterical. They just love their nest box and climb all over it! Sometimes they won't budge when I try to take a quick peek so I give them their privacy and try again later.

I don't have TRES but people who do usually do monitor them. I've heard they will really dive bomb you! LOL!

I am worried about my mama Dee...she had 6 eggs I counted on my nest cam in her box...I think incubation began on May 11th. They STILL have not hatched yet and she sits on them day & night. During the incubation time...we had 2 days that were in mid 90's and then less than a week later, had 2 nights that were mid 30's. At what point will she determine the eggs must not be viable? Poor thing has been so diligent! : (

I have had Dees that went several days beyond"normal" hatching schedule.

I have a Dee in a nest in my planter below my bay window. She has five eggs and been sitting on them since early to mid March. We had a very cold spell for a week or more. She rarely leaves the nest. I think her mate is gone. I have tired to leave her alone but feel it is way past the time they should have hatched. My heart breaks for her. What can I do? Jane in NC