Lisa I have the back of the box taped up. Should I tape the front door? I want to check to see the final egg count, but I think it would be best to not open the door and let in cold air. Yep, I have 10,000 mealworms coming probably today or tomorrow. Will the eggs freeze? It is still very cold and as you know we are getting snow this weekend. I need to get another hosp. too. He keeps changing nest boxes and I can't find the other VanErt trap so I keep going back and forth with the one trap. Anyway, I don't think I will open the box anymore. I guess I will know how many eggs she laid when I see them fledge :) Karen

About a month ago, Bluesman posted on the Bird watching forum about a type of entrance hole that allows Tree Swallows to enter, but not HOSP. He said - "There is a House Sparrow resistent entrance to keep them out of Tree Swallow houses but unfortunately Bluebirds cannot get in this. It works great for Tree Swallows though. I will see if I can post a picture of it. I first heard of it from a man in Canada named Bernie Nikolai. It is simply a 7\8 of an inch tall slot that is about two inches wide. It is in a thin plate around 1\8 inch thick. The House Sparrow cannot enter this but the Tree Swallows being more streamlined and slender bodied can flatten out and get right in. It works so good." The link below is the whole thread. Here is a link that might be useful: Male Purple Martin Using My Clinger Entrance Video!

Congrats on the bird life, Quietman! Here's hoping the HOWR's will be busy with their own nesting and leave the others alone long enough to get to fledging. The TRES will likely help with the defense. How fun to watch the killdeer! Have fun with your pond. My neighbor put one in last fall, and there were a lot of things they were not prepared for. They bought expensive coy fish, and herons ate them. Leaves fell in and fouled the water, the pump failed at least twice and the water froze, then the algae problem. Deer were walking in it, also fouled the water. They put a net over the whole pond, and some animal must have gotten caught in it and ripped it up. A groundhog dug a big hole underneath the berm and moved in; they fill it in, he digs it out again. A huge toad moved in. He's cute, but he keeps us awake at night, even with our windows closed. It's been interesting to watch it all. BlueBars

tnjoseph....they lay one egg per day until the clutch is complete. Check tomorrow afternoon, you should see another egg. Don't check in the morning as that is typically when they lay eggs. Knock sofly on the box before opening or talk a bit so she knows you are coming if she is in there. Once she is done laying she will start incubating..incubation typically starts the day the last egg is laid. Incubation is normally 12-14 days and then hatching occurs. Typically 14 days is the norm. Once hatched the nestlings are in the box 16-19 days before they fledge. You can look to make sure all is ok but don't open the box after day 13 to prevent premature fledging. Agree with Nicknack...get a spooker up asap! Glad to hear you got so many HOSP..hopefully they don't bother you anymore. Donna