Just as we are gearing up for spring and looking forward to longer days and spending more time in our yards, so too are the birds! They are busy pairing-off and seeking the perfect site to build a nest in time for egg-laying and raising their little broods.
On Vancouver Island, we are lucky to have the native Chestnut-backed Chickadee living in the forests and visiting our backyards. In BC, there are 4 species of Chickadee, but only the Chestnut-backed Chickadee lives here.
Like other cavity-nesters, chickadees need hollowed-out nests in standing dead and decaying trees, also known as ‘snags’ and ‘wildlife trees’. They are secondary cavity-nesters, which means they tend to occupy a nest that was previously excavated by a primary cavity-nester, such as a woodpecker.
In our rapidly urbanizing landscape, fewer and fewer standing dead trees remain. Even in parks, snags can be taken down to reduce the risk to park visitors if they are located near trails and other places that people are likely to spend time.
In my early 20’s I had the chance to work as a field assistant for a breeding study of Chestnut-backed Chickadees in northern, BC. This was a valuable experience for me to learn the importance of protecting snags and quality habitat for chickadees and many other species that depend on standing dead trees.
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
(photo credit: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chestnut-backed_Chickadee)
In our backyards, we can help by hanging a nest box. A nest box (or birdhouse) is a simple way to imitate the conditions of a cavity-nest and welcome birds into our outdoor spaces.
Kinglet Consulting is all about sharing our yards with nature and helping people connect with the outdoors right outside their doors. We created a simple and fun Chickadee Birdhouse kit so you can offer a nesting site to your neighbourhood chickadees this spring!
The nest box kit is a great activity to do with kids or to gift to a nature-loving friend.
Here are some tips to consider if you want to hang a Chickadee House in your backyard:
Where to hang it and how high?
You can mount your nest box to a tree, fence, wall or under a roof overhang. It is ideal to protect it from the rain. Think about hanging it near trees or gardens that provide seeds and insects – things chickadees love to eat! The ideal height to hang your nest box is 5’ to 15’ off the ground.
Which orientation is best?
Aim for an east-facing nest, oriented away from the prevailing winds. This way it will warm up early in the day and not be in direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day. Also, hang it somewhere you can watch it! It’s fun to watch the parents flying back and forth to feed the hungry chicks.
Nest box in a park
Hanging more than one nest box?
Well… chickadees are territorial, so if you put up a few nest boxes in your yard you are likely giving a few options to one nesting pair. In other words, don’t be surprised if only one nest box is used.
What about predators?
It’s true that cats and other animals might be interested in the eggs or chicks, but the design of your box should have some elements to deter easy access to predators. First, choose a box without a perch, which could be used by a predator to gain easier access. Second, look for a nest box that is natural wood so it blends in with the surroundings and doesn’t draw too much attention to the nest. Third, there should be a roof overhang to make it more difficult for a squirrel or other animal to reach in side.
Does the nest box need to be cleaned out?
In nature, birds do not have a human coming along to clean out their nest, so there is no need to clean out your nest box either. In fact, once a pair of chickadees finds a nest box they like, they’ll be back year after year! You may be saving them the trouble of re-building a new nest if it is left alone. The main reason to clean out a nest box when the birds are done nesting is to prevent the bottom from rotting over time, but a nest box made of red cedar and with vent holes in the bottom will withstand rot and provide good air circulation.
Interested in building your own Chickadee Birdhouse? Check out the birdhouse kits available at kinglet.ca/shop
Birdhouse Kits from Kinglet Consulting
Good luck, and enjoy supporting nature in your outdoor space!
Did you know? Bird nests are federally and provincially protected. From March to August, when birds are busy building nests and raising young, we must all do our part not to disturb any nest. As gardeners, we need to keep this in mind. Plan major vegetation removal work outside this nesting-window or be prepared to reschedule the work if a nest is found in the work area.
Resources:
https://www.birdatlas.bc.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?sp=CBCH&lang=en
https://www.goert.ca/activities/wp-content/images/CavityNesters_Chickadees_Nov2014.pdf
Learn more about the services Kinglet Consulting offers at kinglet.ca