Chickadee Behavior - Nest Protection

[Jon Hazen]

Hello. 

This morning (5/15/22) I witnessed something unusual in our backyard. 

We have a pair of Black-capped Chickadees using a nestbox. We don't see them feeding so the guess is she's sitting on eggs right now. As we know, nesting birds are pretty secretive, so we look often.

I was having coffee, watching the backyard for birds, when I spotted an English Sparrow hunkered down on the birdhouse ridge. Argh! I saw one of the Chickadees below it, flitting through the branches. I walked outside and 15 feet from the stoic sparrow and said, "Hey!" It flew.

I saw two Chickadees chase it around the yard and then over the fence and away. I went back inside to watch the birdhouse with binoculars.

A minute later the Sparrow was back on the ridge taking another intimidating pose above the entrance. So I'm back outside, this time with a 5' bamboo stick in my hand. I said nothing but reached up with the stick to push the sparrow off the ridge. It was so intent, I nearly touched it before it flew.

I went back inside and darn it, the sparrow was now skulking in the branches below the nestbox. I went outside again, spotted the sparrow, picked up my stick, and then this amazing thing happened 15-feet in front of me.

The two chickadees (I would characterize as viciously) *attacked* the sparrow from two directions. It tried to escape upward but in the tangle of small limbs, they CAUGHT IT. 

Each chickadee gripped a wing in its feet and held on. The three birds cartwheeled 5 feet through the foliage to the ground.

The sparrow flopped itself loose but the chickadees chased and again grabbed it by the wings. More tumbling through small branches and new leaves.

Finally the sparrow broke away and was chased well out of the yard. It hasn't come back. Yet. <--- And if it does, that will be interesting too.

Chickadees are tough little guys. I believe they may have been pecking at the sparrow's eyes. They certainly had a very good grip and were close enough to do damage.

Comment?

Jon

[Lisa Millbank]

From previous correspondence, I think that particular box has a 1-1/4" hole, which is small enough for a House Sparrow to enter.  It would be a good idea to take measures as soon as possible to deter the House Sparrow, because they are very persistent even if the chickadees seemed to win this round.  If the House Sparrow enters the box, despite the heroic efforts of the adult chickadees, he'll destroy the eggs, and if he catches one of the adults inside the box, there's a good chance he will kill or badly injure them (such as by crushing their bill or pecking out an eye).  I recommend that everybody with nest boxes check out this article, which has information about House Sparrow attacks, a variety of control methods and sparrow spooker devices: http://www.sialis.org/hosp.htm

Here's an article about nesting chickadees and how to protect them from House Sparrows using a 1-1/8" hole guard/reducer: http://www.sialis.org/chickadee.htm, http://www.sialis.org/holereducer.htm (includes DIY instructions). Because chickadees can use a smaller hole that excludes House Sparrows, that is usually the recommended solution rather than using a sparrow spooker device.  Monofilament can also be used (see the first article link for how to use it).  A 1-1/8" hole reducer is usually installed after the first egg is laid.  Apparently, it's very rare for chickadees to abandon clutches after the installation of a hole reducer, but I think it could be more likely if they have already endured a lot of harassment by House Sparrows. 

If you have to monitor a chickadee box, be aware that the female will sometimes pull a fur "blanket" over the eggs as she leaves.  This usually doesn't happen if you tap on the box while she's incubating, because she'll exit quickly without covering the eggs.  But if you watch her leave for a break from incubating, and then check the eggs, the female may have concealed them and the nest could appear empty.  If you need to check, be very careful when lifting the fur, because supposedly, the eggs are unusually delicate and can break with a light touch.  Re-cover the eggs when you are done monitoring.

Lisa Millbank

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[Jim Fairchild]

Bird banders refer to them as black-capped chickademons.  Well-earned here!!

Jim Fairchild

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[Jon Hazen]

Thank you for your comments!

Followup:  I just went outside to measure the nestbox entrance. I thought I had purchased an 1-1/8" box. I went out with a measuring tape,  got a short ladder and climbed up where I could read the tape. I cut an inch for accuracy (fyi useful construction technique meaning measured from the one inch mark, not the end of the tape) Confirmation 1-1/8".

To me, that explains why the sparrow planted itself on the ridge. It knew there was something to eat (probably been-there/done-that recently somewhere else) and was so stubborn because it was frustrated at the lack of entry.

She flew out after I measured. I think the chickadees recognize me. They are regulars. They see me often and remain calm if I stop and do not approach. I think the knew I was on their side. I had chased it off twice while they watched.

No sign of the sparrow since. Probably seeing an ophthalmologist right about now.

[Lisa Millbank]

That's a relief that the box hole is sized correctly so the sparrow can't get in!  Hopefully there will be a successful brood of chickadees in the near future!

Lisa

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