Ironically, the weeds, overgrowth, and tangle of vegetation are very attractive to most birds. It provides them with cover and nesting sites, and there are usually berries, seeds, and insects in the vegetation as well. They don't care that the plants are too close together, or whether a bed is edged perfectly or sprayed for weeds. I had a very overgrown yard when I moved here 10 years ago, with many invasive plants. The only thing I continually remove are invasive plants, and in stages because I've done most of the work myself by hand. Sometimes I wish it had gone faster, and been "overhauled" as you are doing, but I tried to preserve habitat. I left some thickets of vegetation, and left "snags" or dead trees up in the back yard purposely to provide nesting habitat for cavity nesters (and Black-capped chickadees are cavity nesters). I had Bluebirds nesting in snags here for 2 years, until the snags fell over. I also leave up some dead branches for perching and insect value. I would suggest that you go over to All about birds, and read about the BCCD. Also observe the little chickadee's habits in your yard, where they like to "hang out", and perhaps leave some habitat intact throughout the overhaul.

I definitely would not try anything once the eggs are in the nest but I'm just itching to get that focus right. I adjusted for what I thought would be the bottom of the nest material and did not think about a little higher to account for the birds height. Maybe the babies will at least be in focus initially until they grow. They looks like the first layer is a certain type of moss.

It's almost surreal that those little things are birds, much less chickadees. They started gaping very quickly and seem to be able to process the food the parent is shoving in the mouth. Is the mother still rotating the four remaining eggs? And do you think they'll hatch? Claire

I've got a pair of Carolina Wrens making a nest in a potted fern today. It's fun to watch them. They're using dried grass clippings from the cutting and weed whacking my son did along our walkway yesterday. They're both hard at work! I know I'd never be able to photograph them though. They scatter at the slightest sound or movement on my part. Robin