Since there is a paucity of natural bird nesting cavities throughout Georgia, Carolina chickadees often have to compete with eastern bluebirds for the same nesting boxes. When this occurs Carolina chickadees usually end up looking for another place to nest.  There are, however, ways in which you can provide a nesting site of Carolina chickadees.

       One approach is to equip a nesting box with an 1 1/8-inch

entrance hole instead of the 1½-inch hole featured on standard bluebird boxes—bluebirds simply cannot squeeze through a 1 1/8 –hole.

However, Carolina chickadees can enter nesting boxes 1 1/8 inches or larger in diameter. Consequently, even if a pair of Carolina chickadees begins nesting in a standard bluebird box, the pair is not guaranteed their nesting attempt will be successful.   

       One reason for this is bluebirds will actually run off chickadees even after they have begun nesting.  It has also been documented that bluebirds will deposit their own nesting material over Carolina chickadee hatchlings.

       With that in mind, consider dedicating one or more nesting boxes for Carolina chickadees.  If Carolina chickadee nesting boxes are not readily available in your area, and  you don’t have the means to build your own box, all you have to do is install a metal hole guard featuring a 1 1/8-inch hole over the 1½ hole cut in the box.  Problem solved.