I start checking nestboxes in April. Most Black-capped Chickadees
have eggs on the nest by late May and the first broods fledge at the
end of June. Chickadees regularly attempt a second brood. Clutch
size appears to be smaller on the second attempt.

I have only had one Chestnut-backed pair attempt a nest in my boxes.
It was in the same time frame.

For those interested, I use standard bluebird boxes. My primary
target species is Tree Swallow, however. I also get the occasional
Bewick's Wren in these boxes.


>
>Those of you who have chickadees who live/nest in your yards, I'm
>curious: how soon do they start up their families?
>Irene
>iwanner at u.washington.edu
>
>

--
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* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * God abhors a naked singularity
* mpatters at ednet1.osl.or.gov * S.Hawking
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