Chickadee Nest Monitoring Protocol
- Check the nest box once a week to determine the nest box is active
Chickadee Nest building steps:
- Step 1: Little bit of moss around the edges (Days 1-3)
- Step 2: Full layer of Moss, starting to get thick! (Days 4-6)
- Step 3: Large, thick layer of moss and the beginnings of forming a shallow cup (days 6-8)
- Step 4: Line the inside of the cup with soft material like dry grass and animal fur. (Days 8+)
Chickadees are the first to start building, and the first pairs initiate their nests in Late March, Early April. Watch your nest box periodically to see if you can catch the pair building or excavating. Both the male and female will excavate together, anytime in March, April or May. Usually, the female takes care of the building alone, and quickly brings moss and animal fur to make her nest. The male will follow her closely, often singing charismatically above the nest box.
2. Enter your data on the website As soon as you know a nest is active, enter your data on the website so that we are aware that there is an active nest in your area! If your nest is chosen for supplementary information, Desiree or one of the Nestwatch technicians will contact you.
3. Once your nest is active, Check the nest every 3 days. Record the number of eggs and young observed during each visit, as well as other relevant observations such as the color-band combinations and behavior of the adult birds. If possible, check the nests when parent birds are away. Make visits brief, quick, and quiet. Use different routes for approaching and leaving the nest site; this guards against leaving human scent trails which predators might utilize. If you 'flush' the female off the nest, don't worry. Complete your check quickly and then leave the area. She will return shortly after you are gone.
4. Record your data on the website on the same day. By giving us data in real time, we can schedule our supplemental data accordingly. If contents are hard to see in the box, use a mirror to get a better view. If for any reason you are unable to check a chickadee nest (vacations, etc.), please let me know as soon as possible, and I will schedule someone to come out and collect the data.
5. Visit the nest one last time after you are certain the young have fledged to determine if any unhatched eggs or dead young remain. Count and report on the online nest monitoring form.
5. Clean the nest box out only after you are certain that the nest is completed. This will make the nest box available for other species to use, and will discourage colonization of insects such as mites or ants.
Nestwatch Cavity-nesting Species Information
Frequently Asked Questions

What Data do I record?
When you submit data to me please record the following information:
Which nest boxes should I monitor?
Chickadees can nest in any type of nest box (and often in some other unexpected places!). Please check all nest boxes in your yard until you get an active chickadee nest. If all nest boxes are empty, you can submit one report that says 'I checked all X of my boxes and none had evidence of nesting'. If possible, please take down any nest boxes that cannot be opened to look inside until the end of the chickadee breeding season (end of June).
I've got a House Wren Nest! Is that Bad?
No this is wonderful! Any native nesting bird is a success. :) Although we will not come out to collect supplementary information on House Wrens, please monitor the nest using the same protocol above and submit to the project. House Wrens will nest up to three times in a season, even if they are successful!
Can House Sparrows/Predators get in?
For the Nestwatch Tubes, the entrance hole is only 3 cm so it keeps out all other birds and predators other than chickadees and house wrens. Snakes and house wrens can destroy nests but they are the majority of the threat to nest success. Despite this, we had about a 90% success rate with the 35 nests we monitored last year.
Any additional Questions? Please Contact Desiree at [email protected]
When you submit data to me please record the following information:
- Your First and Last Name
- The species of your nest (if known)
- The date the box was checked
- The stage of the nest (none, building, eggs, nestlings, fledged, fail)
- Number of Eggs
- Number of Nestlings
- Any notes that are important (color bands of birds at nest, behavior, etc.)
Which nest boxes should I monitor?
Chickadees can nest in any type of nest box (and often in some other unexpected places!). Please check all nest boxes in your yard until you get an active chickadee nest. If all nest boxes are empty, you can submit one report that says 'I checked all X of my boxes and none had evidence of nesting'. If possible, please take down any nest boxes that cannot be opened to look inside until the end of the chickadee breeding season (end of June).
I've got a House Wren Nest! Is that Bad?
No this is wonderful! Any native nesting bird is a success. :) Although we will not come out to collect supplementary information on House Wrens, please monitor the nest using the same protocol above and submit to the project. House Wrens will nest up to three times in a season, even if they are successful!
Can House Sparrows/Predators get in?
For the Nestwatch Tubes, the entrance hole is only 3 cm so it keeps out all other birds and predators other than chickadees and house wrens. Snakes and house wrens can destroy nests but they are the majority of the threat to nest success. Despite this, we had about a 90% success rate with the 35 nests we monitored last year.
Any additional Questions? Please Contact Desiree at [email protected]