Here, here, Ray!!! You are expressing the sentiments of all who have accepted the responsibility of being a responsible bluebird landlord. People start off with good intentions by putting up a nestbox but don't understand that if you don't monitor it and allow only native birds to nest, you're not really helping at all. I do not allow house wrens to nest in any of my nestboxes even though they are native birds because of the very reason you noted. If you allow one pair to nest, they breed more house wrens which return the following year. I check all my boxes frequently during nesting season and stop a nesting as soon as I see twigs inside a box--they can be stubborn little birds but eventually will move on. It makes me sick to think of the number of bluebird eggs that have been lost because of them. I know we all would like to approach each and every homeowner that has a nestbox improperly mounted, too many boxes in an area or that simply has all those "cute little birdhouses" and explain what damage they are actually causing to our native birds. I guess all we can do is try to educate others, gently, when the opportunity arises and continue to do things right in our own corner. Just know there are plenty of us out here who share your frustration! Kathy

That's awesome. Thanks for keeping us posted:-)

Hi Cathy You must be well north of me. Yes the population of bluebirds does decline after a harsh winter my numbers have stayed around 35 to 40 pairs the last few years... back in the 1990's the weather was different winters were mild and the bluebird population low at the time doubled in the mild years. New England had a cold spring of april of 2008 many females weak from there trip north perished on half made nest. Its just not winter weather that kills bluebirds! Food supply at its lowest in april many bluebirds perished and my flock which was already paired off were flying around the town and reforming there bonds with other bluebirds because of this extreme cold weather in april killed so many nest box's just ready for eggs were found with nothing but dead bluebirds I have such a volume of bluebirds that return here I did not feel the loss like so many others in near by states The month a may brings in the youngest of the bluebirds and what ever box's are empty are quickly taken by these first year breeders. I can support 60 pairs but only once in the 1990's were they all used by bluebirds. Alot depends on weather and your local population of bluebirds. My bluebird box's have been in place for years and with out question they are super prime locations. Bluebirds with care can live three to five years. Those are area's void of HOSP And cats! I have a few bluebirds that are absent I blame the harsh winter. But the sites should be taken by young bluebirds that i produced last year. Ray

Hiyah, I know we have quite a few folks from GA here. I hate to make a list cause I know I'll miss someone so apologies in advance (I put quotes ' ' around screen names): Me: NW Georgia (Acworth) Genie Guthrie: Suwanee Rebecca: Suwanee (I think) ** I think we have some more folks from Suwanee Cindy ('garmom'): south of Atlanta airport Janie 'josieoh-05': NE Georgia Tara: 15 miles NE Atlanta 'leslie-ann': Snellville 'hursetowhee': here's something I posted last year that may be of use to us: These regional office phone numbers are from www.georgiawildlife.org: 1- Armuchee (706) 295-6041 2 - Gainesville (770) 535-5700 3 - Thomson (706) 595-4222 3 - Augusta (706) 667-4672 3 - Social Circle (770) 918-6416 4 - Fort Valley (478) 825-6354 5 - Albany (229) 430-4254 6 - Fitzgerald (229) 426-5267 7 - Brunswick (912) 262-3173 Bluebird blessings, Linda...