Well I guess I will answer my own question since I got no replies to this one. The TRES are gone from this box and so are the Dees. The Dees have however moved to another box and started building a nest. Donna

Lisa, Lisa, Lisa, have you been staying up late again watching Disney Movies? Just teasing but it does sound a little disneyesque no? Very cool if these birds were watching over a baby regardless of what kind of bird. My Bluebirds are a tiny bit delayed in fledging so maybe the weather is affecting all of them. I am keeping my fingers crossed for your beautiful babies to fledge healthy and happy when they are ready.

Our weather has turned around, not normal temps yet but in the 60's so I believe those that were still alive yesterday will all make it. Glad you were able to assist yours Lisa, with only one parent it would make it alot harder. I really think in the case here that it was more the cold that killed them (highs 47-50...lows 30's-low 40's) then the starvation but it could have been a combination. I only say this because we didn't have a total loss. The ones that survived this 3 day cold wet spell were either the ones that were fully feathered (1 box) or those that were still being kept warm by the mom (4 boxes). Those that were inbetween (3 boxes)...too big to be sat on by mom and yet didn't have all their feathers yet were the ones that died. Maybe feeding them would have helped but with eight nestboxes of Swallows I wouldn't have known who needed help and who I might have put at a greater risk by opening the nestboxes, Sunday was the only non rainy day however it was misty and very very windy. However like all things this gives us better knowledge so if something like this were to happen again I could know who to try to help. What did you use for a nestchange, did you buy something at the store? Just curious there would have been nothing here dry enough to use anyway but when I did pull the three nests out of the boxes that we lost there was only one that was wet, the other two were dry. Also what other instructions were you given, you said you followed them to a T but didn't explain them all. Did you use small waxworms, what did you use to give the worms to the swallows? How on earth did you open the box, hold an umbrella, feed the babies and be able to see what the heck you were doing at the same time? Usually I check the swallows nests with a mirror however yesterday when I was checking for the ones we lost I used a small step ladder to make sure I wouldn't miss anything. It sure must have been quite the task to feed your swallows but I commend you for trying to help them. Great job, I hope yours make it. Is the weather better there yet?? Donna

Bob - Rather than an extension cord, would it make long-term sense to move the wall outlet to the side of the cabinet? It might not be the prettiest solution ever, but it would be more versitile given most kitchen appliances are notorious for short cords. Just a thought. I'm glad you're pleased with Pleasant Hill. I thought they were great to do business with. Thanks, Tricia and Ann. That explanation made sense. It was hard to tell the mechanics of it from the pictures. What you're describing certainly makes more sense than fighting that dough hook. I had a KA that was over 35 years old and heavily used by the whole family. After two rebuilds it really did bite the dust. No complaints. It performed long and well under very heavy use -- and it probably wouldn't have needed those two rebuilds if a certian relative hadn't tried to push her luck and its limits. I was about to buy a new one when my MIL downsized and gave me her newer KA Pro. She hated it from day one, being used to the older models. I hated it from day one. We've agreed to donate it to a local church's community kitchen where they won't make it do anything more strenuous than cake mix. (Of course now KA is sold at Wal-Mart, so I'm not surprised that they are a POS compared to the old Hobart-built ones.) So, I'm saving up for a Bosch or an Electrolux...if I can ever make up my mind which to buy. :) Bob may have just tipped the scales by mention of the weight factor.