[EBB Sightings] chickadee behavior

If I recall correctly, this is typical behavior for chickadees, who often
excavate their cavities (either of wood or of old nesting material) to the
proper size before building their nests.  I believe that "they" even
recommend filling a new bird house with wood chips so that the chickadees
can excavate for themselves.  On the the few occasions when I've had
chickadees nest, they have begun by taking out wood chips from the box
before nest construction.

Jaan Lepson
Livermore


On Mon, April 6, 2009 6:24 pm, Susan Russell wrote:

> A couple of days ago I observed something I have never seen before by a
> chickadee.  Instead of bringing nesting material to the nestbox, it was
> hauling stuff OUT like a jilted lover tossing all the belongings out the
> third floor window onto the lawn.  While I was watching, the activity was
> nonstop, all the fluff of the nest floating in the breezes.  I would have
> thought if the birds were not happy with their home they would have
> simply abandoned it.  Maybe it was a "foreclosure".  Anyway, for the next
> 2 days I was away and after we returned there has been no activity of any
> sort.  Has anyone ever seen anything like this?
> Susan
> Montclair
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-- 
Jaan Lepson

University of California
Space Sciences Laboratory
7 Gauss Way
Berkeley, CA 94720-7451