Attracting Chickadees, Titmice, Nuthatches, etc...

[MidTNJerry]

Last weekend, I built a couple of houses like the one in the photo attached. The entrance hole is 1 and 3/8 inch across and (according to the website where I found the plans) perfect for Chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, etc.

I have the two houses up and ready for visitors. The only change I made to the plans was to add a hinge and hook to the roof. A few bluebirds have already tried to squeeze in but were unsuccessful. :-) They'll get over it. I already have lots of houses waiting for my bluebirds. :-)

Just wondering if anyone else has ever attracted those birds successfully.

Thanks.

[Louise Chambers]

We've had titmice (the ones in this area have black crests) nest in our bluebird boxes - neat little birds. Also flycatchers.

That looks like a nice nestbox, let us know which birds use it.

[Gobbler T]

Jerry,
My "mentor" has titmice, nuthatches, and black caped chicadees every year. He mounted his boxes on post's that have a vine of some kind growing on it. It's not a real thick vine, and I don't know if the vine itself has anything to do with it, but he's had great success.

[MidTNJerry]

Thanks folks. I have a small bluebird flock of 7 bluebirds that hangs around...I'm pretty sure it's the nesting pair from last year plus their five offspring from the successful hatch. They've been very interested in the new real estate. but no other interest yet.

What I REALLY LIKE about this house is the fact that the entrance hole is too small for HOSP (again, according to the website where I found the plans, but time will tell), and if that's true, it will be low maintenance which will be very nice.

I'll keep the group posted.

[AnnieM]

Hello Jerry,
All my Black Crested Titmice and Carolina Wrens believe
my Martin gourds were put up just for them and are constantly trying to nest in them. That does look like a nice house. What was the web link & I'll try a couple of them to see if they will go for them instead of the gourds.

[Peter Alberda]

Last year I put up some 4" PVC nests and had 100% occupancy. Four had bluebirds, two had chickadees (seven in each nest - a beautiful sight!), and one a wren. Chicadees like edges of hayfields or pastures near a brush or tree line. The titmouse prefer it even more wooded. In 35 years I've only had one titmouse nest in a bluebird box, though I have them at the feeder all the time. I guess I should just stick a coop in the woods and see what happens. My tree swallows don't like the PVC nests, but rather stick with the conentional boxes. Sparrows don't like them either.

[jeffwilliams72]

Peter, do you have a picture of your 4" pvc nests?

[Peter Alberda]

Here you go: http://www.gilbertsonnestbox.com/pvc_nestboox.htm

I've never had a sparrow nest in one yet. And they're the favorites of our bluebirds. I often pair a conventional box for tree swallows with a pvc box for bluebirds. I space them about 30 feet apart at the edge of a field or pasture and usually get one of each at the same site.

[MidTNJerry]

Here's the link to the house.

http://www.50birds.com/MPSideMount.htm

[Dolphins Fan]

Jerry,
I am trying to get chickadees as well and I've done some reading that you should know. For one I have read chickadees as well as titmice will reject a house with a 1-1/8" & 1-1/4" hole initially and possibly a 1-3/8" hole. They will however readily use boxes with 1-1/2" or larger holes.

What I did and what you can do is enlarge the hole to 1-1/2" then after and only after they lay the first egg put a hole reducer of 1-1/8" for chickadees and 1-1/4" for titmice over the hole. They will then accept the smaller hole size because they are committed to the box. Also adding an inch or two of woodchips helps to attract them. Mount the box on a post 5-10 feet high near trees or on a tree itself.

I've seen that box you have before but I can't say if they would like it or not. I do know they like bluebird houses and chickadees love the Gilbertson PVC box.

Hope this helps and good luck!

[chickadee]

i had a pair of chickadees nest last summer. in a white tube box made out of pvc pipe with a 1 1/2 inch hole.it is put up on a apple tree. and i have a peterson box witch all birds go crazy over i think because its tight like a woodpecker hole ? but a sparrow got in it last year so the chickadees left.so this year iamb going to get a smaller hole on it. chickadees are one of my favorite but i find almost as hard to get as martins.

[jeffwilliams72]

Peter & Jerry, thanks for the pics, I will be making some of these houses.
NJDevils, I think you just explained why I always see Chickadees checking out my houses, but never building??? I will remove my large flat washers w/ 1-1/8" opening, see if any lay then put the restrictor back on.
Great information!!! I have searched up & down for info on housing BCC & TTM, and never came across that tidbit.
This forum benefits alot more birds than just Martins!!!!!

[chickadee]

can someone tell me what size hole for a chickadee that a sparrow cant get in?

[jeffwilliams72]

Chickadee, look at above post by NJDEVILS.

[Dolphins Fan]

Glad I could help. That may very well be why your chickadees are checking out the house and not building because the hole is too small. I learned this information on a bluebird website. Here is the exact link http://www.sialis.org/chickadee.htm

Chickadee a house sparrow cannot enter a hole less that 1-1/4"so a 1-1/8" hole will prevent them from entering. Unfortunately I do not believe titmice or nuthatches can enter anything less than 1-1/4" either.

[Peter Alberda]

Jerry,

If you do make a pvc house as you stated, you should buy one so you can copy it exactly. There's a lot of important design features that you don't see by looking at it from a distance. As designed, they're dry as a cork. If you leave out some of the details, they'll wick water into the house, which can kill. I see you're from Indiana. I bought all mine from an Amish guy, Dave Yoder, in Topeka Indiana for 16 or 17 dollars each.

Pete

[jeffwilliams72]

NJDevils, I just wanted to thank you again for posting that link about BCC. For the 1st time in 10 yrs of trying, I have BCC nesting in a nestbox.
I enlarged the hole to 1-1/2" the BCC's built a beautiful nest mostly of moss, and laid 6 eggs! I added the 1-1/8" hole reducer, and they immediately returned to sitting. It's a great feeling knowing they can rear their young in peace with no worries about murderous HOSP.

[Matt@atx]

Jerry,

If you do make a pvc house as you stated, you should buy one so you can copy it exactly. There's a lot of important design features that you don't see by looking at it from a distance. As designed, they're dry as a cork. If you leave out some of the details, they'll wick water into the house, which can kill. I see you're from Indiana. I bought all mine from an Amish guy, Dave Yoder, in Topeka Indiana for 16 or 17 dollars each.

Pete

Peter, If I wanted to buy a BB house like yours, I would buy them from that web site you posted here right?

[Matt@atx]

also Peter,


Could you add a Sparrow Spooker to this PVC houses too once BB lay eggs in them?

[tcg]

I have a pair of titmice with some little ones in a a bluebird box. I've been worried that the hole was too large and could let in other things since it was originally intended for bluebirds. I think I'll replace that box with one more appropriate for titmice (like the one in your picture) before next year.

I have a pair of Carolina chickadees that seem to live in my backyard too. I've watched and watched and can't figure out where they go when they are not at my feeders. I feel like it's fairly close though because I read that they don't travel very far from their home territory. I put up a box for them but they didn't seem interested.

Both of these are very fun to watch.