Unfortunately, I put up a bluebird house as a decoration and have been learning rapidly about all of the necessities of 'fatherhood'. I had a nesting pair last year that made it. Before I could move it this spring, TRES made a nest. I have been reading, and absording as much info as possible. I was concerned because I put the box near a fence. Some critter fencing has kept the neighbors cat away. Yesterday, 5 fledglings were ready to leave, fighting to 'hog the hole.' Today, they are all dead. I'm discouraged. I've removed the house and will put it on a metal pole for future broods. I found some mites on the chicks. I hate to learn by mistakes like this. I will be posting more as questions arise. Thanks...

Awesome shots Kenn!! I am keeping my fingers crossed that my adult Blues allow the first nesting fledglings to stay during this second nesting. This morning two of the fledglings were sitting on the top of the nestbox where their four new siblings are in and Dad was sitting on top of the sparrow spooker. Apparently these two don't really care that the mylar strands were blowing right around them. Donna

Got 3 nestings from my pair in W. MD. 5/5, 5/5, and a new nest of 4 eggs last checked this past Saturday. Hopefully, there will be 5 eggs in that nest as well. Frankly, I was shocked (holding my breath), with the success. This was a total surprise to me as the surrounding area is very heavily wooded. My other nest much further east only had two broods, 5/3 and 4/3 (due to fledge early next week). This is my first year closely monitoring my boxes. Never thought I could be so happy to sit at a window with my face glued to a pair of binoculars watching a bird stuff it's face with wiggling worms! It has a become a passion and I hope we can ALL make our skies a little bluer. Keith, I had tiny ants in my nestbox, too. I smeared Tanglefoot all over the pole and put a cork in the pole opening at the top. Will keep checking the box until day 13. Linda

Not in my family. I have 4 brothers and 2 sisters and we were all close growing up. There is no animosity between any of us. LOL We are all in the same city and my one brother lives 2 streets away and my other brother owns the grocery store I shop at and I rarely see him and my sister lives within walking distance. I took care of all of my siblings children over the years, I am close to my younger brother Paul and he helps me out and I helped him out over the years. I am close to my oldest sister Marjorie and talk to her everyday but I couldn't live with her but I could live with my other older sister whom I don't see as much as I would like to. Lizzie took me everywhere with her when I was a little kid - she is 10 years older than me. Marjorie who is almost 18 years older was gone out of the house by the time I was born so I didn't really grow up with her. My brother Ray lives 2 streets over and we have never been close but I am close with his wife and my nieces. I can just pop into their house any time or I stop by to chat when I walk by the house. I get invited over for dinner now and then or he will bring me a plate of food if they cook something special. Not being close to my brother Donald bothers me the most I think. He is 9 years older. All those years I took care of my Mom only Paul was around to give me relief - or to take me on errands. The night my Mom was dying they all showed up except my sister Lizzie who was working in Saudi Arabia at the time to say goodbye. They weren't there for us when we needed them the most. I don't know why they didn't but not one of my siblings offered to help pay for my Mom's funeral costs. I had to take the cash value out on my life insurance to pay for cremation and urn costs. I decided then not to have a funeral because I couldn't shoulder that burden alone and pay for the wake afterwards. I just thought it was odd - she was their Mother too. I asked Donald why he stayed away so long and he said he should have supported me all those years. I asked him if he would be around more now that I would need my family more than ever and he said he would be there for me. That was the day after my Mom died and I haven't heard from him since - almost 6 years now. I have tried to call but his wife is really short on the telephone or they are out of town. I am going to try again to contact him and ask him why he bailed out on me. We shared beds, we ate dinner together everynight growing up, and we played together. They had their own families and we all drifted apart. Nobody stays in touch with anyone. I seem to be the one that it affects most. I make the effort to call my siblings or talk to them or check in on them. My Sister Marjorie can't be bothered because she says none of them call her. Paul sees our brother David at the store. Everyone asks me how everyone else is doing. LOL I think my Dad was the glue that held us all together as a family but he died in 1984. I miss my family. ...