Donna I'm so sorry to here of your loss. Last yr. was my first yr Blue Birding and my first nesting was killed by wrens and I cried as if one of my kids....your right they bring so much joy. I had'nt seen my mama blue today so this evening I went out and raised up the wren guard still couldn't see inside to dark so I ever so gentley open the door slowly and she was in there sitting on her eggs....I was so thrilled to see she was ok. I worry even though I have the baffle, wren guard and spooker up. Like Al said hawks or owls worry me, had a hawk yesterday almost fly into my pic window. But I hope your Mr. Blue finds a new mate and you have a new nesting soon.

OH those home improvement stores are the worst at breeding those birds! Gosh, just keep your windows open and drive around and you here them everywhere!! It's almost hopeless! I still hear them around my house.. at least the blues seem somewhat safer? It's more in balance now. he he, I like sending them back to England, he he! Don't forget the starlings too! ps, My blues have a completed nest already..(two eggs went missing and the blues moved to another house) the nest is in a horrible spot, lots of overhanging branches!! I think I'll just move the pole away from the tree branches and get it as safe as possible. I'd rather them reject the move than have more eggs/hatchlings die or disappear!

Many thanks for your responses, words of encouragement, sensitivity and understanding...you've been where I am now. It's amazing how this situation has affected me. I worried all night, struggling with making the right decision for me. I had intended to spend the next few days thinking it over, perhaps with a clear head and armed with all the needed info. Again today, attempting to enjoy the morning, Mom and Daddy blue flew to the nestbox...NO HOSPS in sight nor did I hear them. Then WHAM...5 seconds later, two females chased away the little couple. I stood there for a minute, chased the HOSPS away and then it hit me! That's it!!! As painful as it is, I know what needs to be done to keep the blues safe. Kathy, I will order the trap you suggested and I will read and re-read all the info provided in the links, but I do have some questions. Is the trap easy to set up and use? I am very mechanically challenged! How do you keep desirable birds out of the trap? What will happen if HOSPS are still around when nestbuilding time arrives? Will the blues continue to be interested in the box even though the HOSPS have chased them away these past two days? Last Jan. and Feb., activity really accelerated with the blues constantly going in and out of the box. Nestbuilding began on 3/13. Gosh, there is so much to learn..it's pretty overwhelming! I'm thankful I found this forum in Jan. and began to learn about these destructive birds, otherwise, their sudden appearance here wouldn't have concerned me one tiny bit, setting up disaster for sure! Yes, Tammy, I'd like your email address if that's ok..mine is beachgirldwk@comcast.net...anyone is welcome to email me, too. It will remain a mystery how these HOSPS found this neighborhood so suddenly. It is no where near the large stores and fast food restaurants where they hang out. My grocery store is only 2 miles from me, but there are absolutely no birds there at all. Too, I feed the backyard birds only the good stuff. Oh well, since they are here, unfortunately I will have to deal with it. Thanks so much again! I'll continue to need your support and patience, for surely there are many questions to come. Donna

I love houses and getting the chance to look inside, so I kind of like House Hunters. (It's a rare treat to see any of the shows, so I haven't had the chance to get too sick of them.) The realtors can be annoying, because they often seem to know as little as the buyers. I'm often shocked at the compromises people make in their original goal, or what priorities they use in buying a house they claim they want to live in for the next 20 yrs. On one we saw when dd was in the hospital, a couple chose a house weighted heavily by the suitability of the back yard for their wedding. 1 day. 1 event. And after, like other shows, watching several episodes in a row (Is that how cable TV works?!), I had to wonder if married couples ever shop for houses. I'm a traditionalist, so was surprised to see that the majority of shows were with young boyfriend-girlfriend sets. One girlfriend intended to take both of the master bedroom walk-in closets to herself, since 'I worked hard to build my own credit and I'm putting that on the line for this house.' Oh, yeah...that relationship was going to last... Her 'beloved' was told he could keep his stuff in the closet off his basement office. HH Internat'l is too out there for me... Guess I just can't relate, as a non-traveler..and someone without millions to spend on a 2nd home. I like to imagine myself in the scenario and that will just never happen.