Black-capped chickadee mother killed, can dad raise 10 day old nestlings alone? (1 Viewer)

[Juliam818]

Dad is doing a great job feeding, but I'm concerned about the babies' warmth since he doesn't roost. We're in northeast Ohio (they made it through last night with low of 60). Does anyone have experience with single father chickadee success?

We reduced the nest box hole size to prevent further attacks (I wish we knew this sooner). The sparrow tried to re-enter the box this morning but couldn't with the smaller hole. Dad is defending well. Is there any chance he could still be killed (outside the nest)?

The top left baby in the photo is likely deceased now—will dad remove the body, or should we?

 

[Juliam818]

Update: The body started to attract flies, so we removed it.

Dad has been a super hero all day. Four babies seem to be doing okay, eating up a storm. I'm hoping that maybe at least the oldest baby (one hatched on April 15th and the others followed over the next few days) is able to regulate his body temp and can help the others.

 

[Juliam818]

Update: The babies made it through another night without mom, but it's obvious that there are two stronger nestlings and two weaker ones. The weaker ones seem to keep getting lost underneath the bedding and unable to get as much food from dad. I think this is also a symptom of mom's absence—she kept a very tidy nest, with the bedding swept neatly to the outer circumference of the box, making ample space for each nesting in the middle. Dad just doesn't seem to think of stuff like that. See attached for photos of the nest before and after mom's death.

 

[Carlotoby]

Well this is a little late to answer but sometimes people learn through reading old posts If one of the birds dies that have a nest in one of my boxes I buy live mealworms to help the single parent out.And don’t forget to put a 1 1/8 hole reducer on the box for chickadees

 

[Bagrica]

Hey, I'm really sorry to hear about the tough situation with the chickadee family, but it sounds like you’re doing everything you can to help! You’re right to be concerned about the babies’ warmth.

At 10 days old, they still need warmth to regulate their body temperature, and while dad is doing a great job feeding, it’s a good idea to make sure the nest is as insulated as possible. In your region, with temperatures around 60°F at night, they can survive for now, but as they get older, they’ll need less warmth from dad. Keeping the nest box protected from drafts will be key.


As for the dad, it’s great to hear he’s defending the box well! Chickadee dads are pretty tough and often stay with their young, even without the mom. They can definitely raise the nestlings on their own, though it’s a lot of work. You’re right to reduce the hole size to keep predators out, and while dad might still be at risk outside the box, it sounds like you’ve done what you can to help him stay safe.

Regarding the deceased baby, usually, the parent will remove the body, but if you’re worried, you can gently remove it yourself. Just be careful not to disturb the others too much. Fingers crossed for the little ones—they're lucky to have you looking out for them.