Posted by Susan Link on April 16, 2008

Q: We had a chickadee nest in our birdhouse with five babies. Mother and daddy were feeding

the babies regularly, heard the babies chirping, everything seemed to be going smoothly. This afternoon there was no activity and no chirping. I checked the nest and all five babies were

dead. Last night the temp got down to 36 (after having been in the 80s last week). Did the weather get them? They had their feathers and had hatched about a week and a half ago, we think. I always assumed the mother would protect them and keep them warm. I'm so disappointed and just wondering what happened.

State: Mississippi

A: I can imagine just how you feel. I too had a nest I was watching a few years ago and all of a sudden the babies died. In my case I found that the babies were totally covered with lice. On close inspection after they died, I could see hundreds of lice on each baby. Can't be sure this is what killed your chickadees but if the babies are still available, you might want to look closely to see if they seem parasitized. If this is the case, be sure to clean the nest box out really well before making it available again. I really don't think the temperature would be a factor - you're right to figure that the mother would brood her babies at night.

Sorry I can't be more helpful but I think parasites are "probably" your most logical answer to this mystery. Thanks for asking.

John Wiessinger ( April 16, 2008)