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Birdhouse help

Hawkeye66

Hawkeye66

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We have a small birdhouse this year that we put up and within a day we got a pair of black capped chickadees.

Anyway, according to what I read they build their nest, incubate the eggs, and rear the young in about 5 weeks times. So, Memorial Day they should be done.

Should we clean out the box at that point or just leave it? Will other birds use it later in the season? I looked a lot around on Google, etc. and found nothing conclusive.

Any help is appreciated.
 
My understanding is that most birds have very specific requirements for bird houses and none are "all-inclusive", Have u tried Audobon or Wild Birds Unlimited for online info? Maybe there's even a chickadee website? I have read that they should always be cleaned after the nesting pair vacates the house, but admit I've never tried putting out bird houses.
 
Hawkeye: I know the folks who run our local Wild Birds Unlimited store, and they are very knowledgeable. I will ask them and let you know what they say.
 
Ah yes, my little chickadee...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLeZlR8LPtI
 
The proprietors of our local WBU responded to Hawkeye's question about cleaning out the birdhouse after the chickadees have fledged:

"We've heard two trains of thought on that. One says to clean it out so that accumulated nests don't get so close to the hole that they are more susceptible to predation. Some also say clean it out if there is evidence of insect infestation. The other side says leave it -- the birds will remove what they don't want. Leaving material in for the winter might also make it a more comfortable place for winter roosting. And in nature, no one cleans out nest holes other than the next occupants!"

They added that they have used both approaches themselves. So... the jury's still out on this one. It's really up to you to decide now that you know both sides of the argument.

Hope this helps. Ironically, I discovered an old birdhouse on the property we just bought, and it looks like it's filled to the brim with nesting material (possibly from previous occupants). I guess I have a decision to make, too!


P.S. to ofos: Your age is showing. ;)
 
I'd wait until fall to clean out the nest. By then I'd forget about it and in the Spring, they'd come back to a furnished apartment.

Mud Princess said:
P.S. to ofos: Your age is showing. ;)
Click to expand...

Flattery will get you nowhere. Gotta admit it's age though, it's certainly not maturity.
 
ofos said:
Flattery will get you nowhere. Gotta admit it's age though, it's certainly not maturity.
Click to expand...

We wouldn't like you as much it it were :D

My vote is to leave the nesting material in there. Maybe empty it out every couple of years.
 
Sadly it seems they may have given up and moved on. I last saw one going in yesterday morning, saw no activity today.

I did a lot of reading and sometimes other birds will drive them out, but I dont see other birds...I dont see any going in there.

I wonder what else would make them just give up. They were at it pretty hard for three days or so. Could it be that she is actually incubating eggs in there already? I would expect the frequent trips would drop off then, but I read the male bird brings food in still.
 
Hawkeye66 said:
I wonder what else would make them just give up. They were at it pretty hard for three days or so. Could it be that she is actually incubating eggs in there already? I would expect the frequent trips would drop off then, but I read the male bird brings food in still.
Click to expand...

She very well could be sitting on eggs already. I wouldn't give up just yet, not after only a day or two.
 
Hawkeye66 said:
Sadly it seems they may have given up and moved on. I last saw one going in yesterday morning, saw no activity today.

I did a lot of reading and sometimes other birds will drive them out, but I dont see other birds...I dont see any going in there.

I wonder what else would make them just give up. They were at it pretty hard for three days or so. Could it be that she is actually incubating eggs in there already? I would expect the frequent trips would drop off then, but I read the male bird brings food in still.
Click to expand...

I don't know if you have wasps in your area, but here in the south, I've seen recommendations to coat the inside roof of the house with vaseline to keep wasps from taking over the bird houses, as that might drive the birds out. Don't know if it's true...
 
Update:

I had not seen them for some time, then I was mowing yesterday and standing in our shed, which is about 15 ft straight out from where the house is, and I saw one pop out for a minute into our tree and then go right back in. My guess is that the eggs are in there now. I guess it takes around 2 weeks. We should be able to hear the babies, its close to a window. Also, the house hangs next to vines and a small pair of brown birds, finches or something made a nest about 3 ft away. I think they wanted the house, but there is no perch and the hole is made for small birds.
 
Here is a picture for reference. You can see the Chickadee's house in the upper right corner. The finches have a nest on the opposite side a little below.

Birdhouse_2012.jpg
 
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