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BB's killed my chickadees???!!!!!

13 years ago

I knew the BBs were unhappy when last month they were run off by a bully mockingbird who wouldn't let them nest in the box (in my yard) they loved last year. So instead they laid eggs in my neighbor's box. In the meantime, chickadees laid eggs in my BB box. Two days ago chickadee parents were very busy and babies were about ready to fledge. Yesterday and today I noticed the BBs sitting on the box A LOT and chickadees not around. Tonight, I discovered the chickadee nest torn up, on the ground below the hole, and two dead chickadee babies just lying there.

BBs are constantly sitting on the box now, but the box is completely empty. Four BB eggs in neighbor's box.

I am so sad. What do you all think happened? Do you think my BBs killed my chickadees? I blame myself for not putting up a thing to make the hole smaller, but it didn't seem necessary at the time.

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Comments (4)

bandjzmom
13 years ago
Gosh deanie, I have never heard of Bluebirds doing such a thing. How terrible. I am so sorry that this happened. Wow, that really stinks. Wonder if there are 2 pairs of Bluebirds there? The Chickadee destruction sounds like the work of HOSPs or House Wrens to me. A snake would have eaten the babies. Did some research and found this:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Bluebirds-3288/2010/5/Bluebirds-taking-Chickadee-Home.htm
bbcathy
13 years ago
Do you have a baffle on the box??? Could be a coon who got interrupted so he didn't get to eat them all. Sounds like a house wren or sparrow to me. I've never seen Bluebirds empty a nest. I'd go with Wren.
Cathy
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Well, so far Lexa there are little - no signs of HOSP using my boxes. So no Van Ert Trapping. For the first time in at least 2 years - my bluebirds have staked a first claim from one of my box pairs. There are now a few pieces of grass formed into a circle in one of my boxes. The male and female bluebird were hanging around behind the box, so I'm thinking it has to be them. Plus I haven't seen any HOSP on/near my boxes yet. Unfortunately, today I trapped yet another Chickadee. 4th one. My brother put some bait in there I didn't want him too, so this is probably what got the chickadee. The little guy was going back and forth. Approaching I saw it but couldn't tell what it was. Was thinking "come on, HOSP please" nope, another Chickadee. Although frantic, he had no damage and appeared healthy. It took him a minute to find the exit. Little guy bursted out and the next minutes he was up in the tree calling away. I'm not giving up yet! I've brought bread crumbs to the equation. I should have one eventually. Indeed with the "rogue" sparrow Lexa! I am gonna convince my neighbor to get a universal trap for his Martin Trio house, as removing the HOSP last season caused European Starlings to move in and start nesting. The Spar-o-door traps are too small for Starlings. I'm just glad my overall efforts to get rid of the HOSP have been successful. I've really changed things around here.
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Hey Lisa, knees still creeking even the bionic one!! :) I've been watching out for the 'little brown birds' who made things difficult in past years. All 4 bluebird chicks fledged yesterday afternoon: one before 6pm, one at 6:10, another 6:20 and the last 6:30!!! I watch all but the first one. The chickadee's nest is FILLED with dog fur that I'd hung out. There are 6 eggs there. Also found 4 House Finch hatchlings this morning and one unhatched egg. The other fern has 5 eggs yet to hatch. That Mama was a day behind laying the eggs. We've got a Brown Headed Nuthatch in a hole in a dead tree. Wish I could see way up there!! It's been a great early Spring. Bluebird blessings, Linda... Acworth, NW Georgia
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itrom.......Last year when chickadees took over our fave BB box after so many year of having only BBs in the box there were reclaim fights but the BBs did not win and we never saw any all summer and that was sad. That particular box is the one we can see easily and we love to watch them and take photos. There are two other boxes nearby so I kept asking myself why can't the cute chickadees just use those...lol. BBs have moved into the fave box and I hope there is peace! Good luck and enjoy whatever nests ...or...put up another box and if you do make sure you follow instructions as to how far from the fist one.
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dzyg
13 years ago
I have heard of a Bluebird killing an adult Chickadee when the Dee looked in the Bluebirds active nestbox. However I doubt a Blue would harm the Dees just because they want the box. With the nesting material pulled out it sure sounds like a raccoon, although normally a raccoon would eat the babies, unless like Cathy said, it got interrupted. I know cats can jump to the top of boxes but I am not sure if they can reach in the box like a coon can and would pull stuff out, cats are notorious for killing and not eating their prey. How old were the baby Dees? I would think if they were around 16 days which would be fledging time (since you said they were ready to fledge) they would be too big for a wren to mess with. The HOSP could easily kill the babies but they wouldn't mess with the nest like that. Did you look at the babies at all for peck marks on the head or teeth marks on the bodies??

So sorry this happened!!

Donna
deanie13
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks,everyone. Angie, from reading that link it does sound like BBs have taken over chickadee nests before. After work today I observed the male BB going in the house. The female is sitting on top, off and on. They seem to love this house. They have four eggs in the house next door, but haven't seen them over there hardly at all. They're sticking really close to my house. The babies were almost full grown with full feathering. I didn't see any marks on them. The parents are still around.

I'll be looking now for another BB pair and HOSPS and house wrens (neither of which I've seen in my yard, but you never know) I'm letting nature take its course, but my BB pair are definitely "persons (er, birds)of interest" :(

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