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madrasahs · 07-18-2004, 05:14 PM

Last season, our one, most-hard-working birdhouse produced four tree swallows.

It was surprising to see a chickadee take up residence this season. For all the nest-building, hatching, and caterpillar-feeding, they produced four more baby chickadees.

It wasn't without drama, though. The tree swallows returned, and started building a nest in the same box with the chickadees!

Urged to "DO...Something!", I checked the internet for the proper size entry for chickadees. (Inch and 1/8th).

I made one out of aluminum (squirrel chewing deterrent), then sandwiched it and a piece of plywood (One & 1/8th hole again) over the exisiting hole. It took an hour to get acclimated, but the hungry nestling's peeps coaxed the parents back in. (The tree swallows went away when they couldn't fit in the entry).

Whew.

During the hour that the nestlings fledged, the chickadees mated again! They are now feeding a second batch of nestlings. The only difference now is that the parent's feathers are truly ragged. (Advanced bird books show some colorful species in their late-summer -- labeled "worn" -- colors. Now I know what they mean).

The chickadees are ever-present, though. They have two calls: the usual "chickadee-dee-dee-dee" and a finely whistled "phoe--bee". (Not the call of the Phoebe, however, which is more like "fzee-bzee?...fzee-bzee!...fzee-bzee?...fzee-bzee!" -- Buzzy-sounding).

The Chickadee is Maine's -- and Massachusett's -- State Bird. The Purple Finch is NH's ('usually just hear them).

07-18-2004, 05:14 PM	#11
madrasahs Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 381 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Black-capped Chickadee Last season, our one, most-hard-working birdhouse produced four tree swallows. It was surprising to see a chickadee take up residence this season. For all the nest-building, hatching, and caterpillar-feeding, they produced four more baby chickadees. It wasn't without drama, though. The tree swallows returned, and started building a nest in the same box with the chickadees! Urged to "DO...Something!", I checked the internet for the proper size entry for chickadees. (Inch and 1/8th). I made one out of aluminum (squirrel chewing deterrent), then sandwiched it and a piece of plywood (One & 1/8th hole again) over the exisiting hole. It took an hour to get acclimated, but the hungry nestling's peeps coaxed the parents back in. (The tree swallows went away when they couldn't fit in the entry). Whew. During the hour that the nestlings fledged, the chickadees mated again! They are now feeding a second batch of nestlings. The only difference now is that the parent's feathers are truly ragged. (Advanced bird books show some colorful species in their late-summer -- labeled "worn" -- colors. Now I know what they mean). The chickadees are ever-present, though. They have two calls: the usual "chickadee-dee-dee-dee" and a finely whistled "phoe--bee". (Not the call of the Phoebe, however, which is more like "fzee-bzee?...fzee-bzee!...fzee-bzee?...fzee-bzee!" -- Buzzy-sounding). The Chickadee is Maine's -- and Massachusett's -- State Bird. The Purple Finch is NH's ('usually just hear them).