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Friday, March 23, 2012

What would you do?

There is a battle going on between birds in my garden and for once it doesn't involve House Sparrows. No, this time, it's two of the good guys who are going at each other.

Early on the Carolina Chickadees claimed this nesting box and started building their nest in it. They worked hard and filled the box about two-thirds full with moss to be their nest where they would raise their young. But the Eastern Bluebirds decided this week that they want that box and they've been jousting with the pair of chickadees over it. Finally, they just decided to go ahead and build their nest on top of what the chickadees had done. They worked steadily at it today and have almost completed their pine straw nest. It seems, perhaps, that they have won the battle, but now I'm wondering if I should remove what the chickadees have constructed, so that the bluebird nest can rest on the bottom of the box where it should be. As it is, it will be too close to the entry hole and it is possible that very young chicks might accidentally fall out. Under ordinary circumstances, I would never dream of interfering between these two much-loved birds, but I am in a quandary. What should I do?

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I didn't have a chance to do my research for my "This week in birds" post today. Check back tomorrow when I hope to have it completed.

6 comments:

  1. Tough one. At least it doesn't involve Sparrows. I would let nature take its course with both of these much loved birds. Difficult to do of course. There is always another option...you could hang a not vacant sign, ha! If only birds could read:)

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    1. If only, Steph. It really is a no-no to interfere with native birds, but given that this battle is taking place right outside my kitchen window, it is especially difficult for me. But I know you are right - I should just let Nature unfold and continue to play the role of observer.

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  2. As much as I feel for those chickadee's I would just let nature do it's thing.

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    1. That's two votes for Nature. Thanks for checking in, ossnap.

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  3. Definitely a tough call, but I think you have to just let things be as they are. I wish we knew what happened to the dove that was nesting in our tree. She was there every day for a week and a half and then, gone. The nest is too high up for me to peek and see if there's anything in there :-(

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    1. I'm sorry to hear about the dove, Jayne. Unfortunately, these things happen in Nature. Perhaps something broke up her nest and she moved to another location.

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