Update: April 22, 2025

The incubation period for the Carolina Chickadee is usually between 12 and 16 days. This means we should see the eggs hatch sometime between April 26th and April 30th.

Update: April 19, 2025

It appears that we were correct about the Wren nest. It is a dummy nest which wrens frequently build when they have an active nest located nearby. We will continue to monitor it for a few more days. If the wren does not return, we will clean out the birdhouse for another bird to use.

Update: April 15, 2025

It apears that the wren is building an active nest in birdhouse #2, based on today's activity.

The Chickadee in birdhouse #1 apprears to have begun incubation on April 14th. The incubation period for the Carolina Chickadee is usually between 12 and 16 days. This means we should see the eggs hatch sometime between April 26th and April 30th.

Update: April 14, 2025

At about 1:00 pm today, a Wren started to build a nest in Birdhouse #2. We are not sure at this time if the nest is a real nest or a dummy nest, which wrens frequently build.

This morning our motion detection camera captured a picture of the uncovered eggs in the chickadee nest . There are a 7 eggs. Click on the picture for a larger view.

Update: April 8, 2025

The Chickadee laid another egg early this morning. This one is probably her forth egg, since chickadees generally lay one egg a day after the first one. We viewed the video replay and soon after she laid the egg this morning, she covered it up by pushing it up under the lower top part of the nest. Here is a picture of the egg this morning shortly after she laid it. Chickadees usually lay between 6 to 8 eggs.  Click on the picture for a larger view.

Update: April 5, 2025

The Chickadee laid her first egg this morning about 10am. The eggs are sometimes hard to see since Chickadees frequently cover their eggs with light materials like rabbit hair.

Update: March 31, 2025

It appears that the chickadee nest is close to being finished. We will hopefully see a egg in there sometime within the next several days.

Update: March 25, 2025

Chickadees have begun placing nesting material in birdhouse #1 today. They have been in and out of this birdhouse frequently during the past two weeks. They had a successful nest in this birdhouse two years ago. This birdhouse is a shallow box, shorter in depth that the average birdhouse. This style of box is frequently preferred by chickadees and bluebirds. We will keep the camera on this birdhouse while active building and nesting activities are in progress and return to the feeders at other times. Birdhouse #2, a standard depth box, is not active at this time.

Update: March 17, 2025

We have just put up a new Bluebird Mealworm Feeder with the hope of attracting the bluebirds that were here last year. We will occasionally aim the camera at this feeder when we see some activity there. Because the birds must go inside the box to get the worms, it will take time for them to learn how to get inside. Chickadees and wrens also will eat mealworms. As of today, the downy woodpecker continues to roost in the birdhouse #1, as it has done all winter. A pair of chickadees have been visiting inside the birdhouse several times in the past two weeks. When there are signs of nesting material inside the birdhouse, we will switch to that camera.