Watching Chickadees Build A Nest!!

Black-capped Chickadees are so photogenic! The chickadee in the photo is sitting at the entrance to a tree cavity. Even though I have taken countless photos of this species, I always find something that excites me about their activities.

A few days ago, I noticed a Chickadee fly into a tree cavity in a dead tree.

It didn't take long before he emerged from the cavity with a beak full of sawdust. He was preparing a nesting area for the next generation of chickadees! Both male and females excavate the hole but the female constructs the egg-shaped cup in which the eggs will sit. Males have a larger black bib, but unless the birds are sitting beside each other, it can be difficult to tell the difference between males and females. 

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-capped_Chickadee/lifehistory

On Monday, a Black-capped Chickadee prepared material for the bottom of the nesting cavity. She worked tirelessly, shredding a piece of wood into fine fibres.

It is amazing what can be accomplished with a beak and 2 feet! Once satisfied with the product, the material was carried up to the cavity to provide a foundation that will be covered in soft nesting material for the eggs. Black-capped chickadee eggs are only 1.5 cm long. 1-13 eggs can be laid. Incubation is 12-13 days, and the nestling stage is an additional 12-16 days.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-capped_Chickadee/lifehistory