Tim, you are really upsetting me. The TRES have just as much right to your boxes as the Blues do. The only birds you should be discourging are HOSPs, Starlings and (even thought they are Native) House Wrens. TRES are just as threatened as Blues, Dees, and the whole gang of cavity nesters. I would be thrilled to have many boxes of TRES!. I am afraid my pair will not make it this year with the bad weather. If you offer housing you must be willing to accept any Native bird and do the best you can to keep it as safe as possible. You can not pick and chose what native bird nests in your boxes. TRES and Blues will nest together often helping each other watch over boxes. You can NOT pick one over another. Put up more boxes. They WILL nest together!

Okay, Okay, Okay...Just a little frustration this year...Primarily when it's in the 50's in May!

I DO apreciate swallows. Good insect eaters ESP. It's just upsetting to see them trying to take every site away from other nesters. Then again my pair isn't even defending their old box. They're obviously taking a good break.

I have the 2nd box up. It's about 8 - 10 feet away. BTW, just saying - Putting up even one more box takes resources.

ohsoblue77, I do have some experience with pairing boxes as we have some paired 15 feet apart at a park where I monitor nestboxes and some paired 25-30 feet apart in our yard. The ones at the park have gone through 3 nesting seasons and I can tell you having them that close together will result in only one box having a nesting in it. Neither the Bluebirds nor the Tree Swallows around here will let another bird nest that close. I know some say they will but they "won't" here. I have seen both the Blues and the TRES defend both boxes when they are that close. At our house even with the boxes 25-30 feet apart the TRES will defend both boxes until they lay eggs then they will leave the other box alone. I had both Blues and TRES nesting 30 feet apart last year however the Blues didn't show up until after the TRES had laid eggs, before that I am not sure if they would have gotten the box. Personally I think I would put them about 50 feet apart. I am hoping this Fall to move the paired boxes at the park further apart, at least 50 feet to see if we can get more nesting pairs of TRES or Blues. I can't really do that in the yard but I am trying to figure something else out since the TRES are kinda box hogs until they settle down and have an active nest with eggs. If I were you I would definately move your boxes further apart. Good luck, let us know what happens.

Donna

Hmm...maybe it depends on local birds.

Yikes...It took some work to put up another. I'd hate to take another spot.

I can't see them acting that hostile towards my blues. I think they might be okay...I've seen my blues take the swallows to the ground twice.

I need some more input. Hard Decisions! Looks like I'm in a bit of a rut...

Actually I'm going to chime in on this again.

I've been reading over the old bluebird-L and many people suggest that boxes farther than 20 to 25 feet apart will likely BOTH be occupied by swallows.

In my case the swallows have 1 of the boxes occupied. They have not touched the 2nd box AT ALL. I think the BBs have a good chance ESP. since they seem experienced and more agressive than my swallows. BTW I had one or two pairs last year and now sometimes a whole flock shows up.
TiM

Go to sialis. Bet has lots of stuff on there about pairing.
Cathy

Here is a link that might be useful: sialis

Actually I've already seen that information. I am regular visitor to sialis.

What I'm really asking for is others' experiences with nestbox pairing, ESP. when the Swallows get the choice of the two.

I hope my blues give it another go soon!!!