Bluebird house mystery

It is gorgeous here after some very unusual weather. I am checking things out. Have heard bluebirds in trees and once saw a pair inspecting my new bluebird condo! Have a family nest in this same spot for 4 years, my handmade birdshack was about done with so I invested in a cedar beauty.

Been anxiously awaiting arrival of my regular yearly residents. On a whim I opened the front of my new house; look what I found. This does not resemble any bluebird nest I have ever seen. Any ideas?

I want my bluebirds but I don't want to destroy this, either, if it belongs to another species.

Hi Gessie, I'm not sure but I know that some folks that do know will be along sooner or later. Meanwhile see if you can catch a look at who is going in and out of the box.

pelletory, that's what puzzles me, I have only seen BB sowing any interest.

I'm thinking maybe a Chickadee...check this out http://www.sialis.org/nestscach.htm .

dellrose, I believe you are correct. I have never seen a chickadee investigate the box; but they are constantly at my feeder nearby.

Oh me, a new problem! I don't want to disturb this nest but I want to encourage my BB family. My lot is small; how close can I reasonably expect to mount a box for the BB to investigate?

From Sialis

Pairing works with species other than TRES, including Violet-green Swallows. Chickadees (Carolina and Black-capped) have successfully nested in paired boxes alongside bluebirds or Tree Swallows. Since chickadees are likely to lose out to bluebirds in a nestbox competition, putting up a paired box (perhaps with a hole restrictor) may allow them to nest in an area where choices are limited

pelletory, are you saying that I may be able to get the BB to nest in a box on a post about 6 ft from the current nesting box?

Well it certainly looks like that is what Sialis is saying but I'm not sure about the distance. 2dCousinDave should be in later to see if there is anything he can add.

Update on the birdhouse mystery.

It is a chickadee.

I decided to put the old box together and put it a little way away from the occupied box. I turned to walk away and heard "cheecking" behind me; a pair of chickadees are already investigating. They seem so excited!!

Just saw the pair fly from the newly installed box over the the occupied box. Do chickadees build multiple nest before settling on a new home?

Maybe they will abandon the nest that is built already and set up housekeeping in the other box so I can give it back to my BB family!

I have never had any birds, other than Carolina wrens and bluebirds, occupy houses. This is interesting and frustrating!

Well I don't think it matters which one they pick because the Bluebirds will take over which ever one they are more interested in. The Chickadee's will be a joy to have nesting in the yard too.

In most cases the bluebird male will not tolerate another bluebird within about 300 feet when they are nesting. But they don't seem to mind so much smaller birds like house finches and goldfinches and chickadees being in the area. My mother in law had chickadees nesting in a little chickadee house just outside her kitchen window and bluebirds nesting in an abandoned woodpecker hole not 20 feet away. And everyone got along fine.

With due respect to what may be written on the Sialis site, I think some males are less tolerant than others. I had two boxes up about 30 feet apart last year, hoping to attract chickadees in one of them but the blues took the one I inyended for the chickadees and defended the other. In fact, that was how my former adult male was killed, trapped in the second box by a house sparrow,

If possible I would locate the second box on the other side of the house or somewhere out of sight of the one the chaickadees are in. I would not clean it out. It looks like they are ready to lay eggs in there soon. And as Pelle said, the chickadees are such fun to have around.

But I hope you get blues too.
Dave

And oh yes, I would get a 1 1/4 hole restrictor and put it on the house the chickadees have built in. That will allow them access but keep out all other species except house wrens, including most importantly, house sparrows.

This message was edited Mar 8, 2010 1:43 AM

Dave, thanks for the advice. As I said, I am new at this and can use all the help I can get as I want as many different birds on my little plot as possible.
Lane

Can I give you my blue bird? He messes up our car mirrors every year. And can pull plastic bags off windows.

Brings new meaning to the saying MAD Blue Bird

Lavina

we just cleaned out our bluebird boxes for spring and i had that same type of nest in one of them, almost like a compressed moss. i'm glad you posted this picture! thanks....