I had the same thing happen to me involving a rabbit's foot fern. Although I enjoyed watching the parents raise the 3 little chicks, my fern suffered for it. What I did this year was to suspend sea shells above the hanging basket from the bracket with fishing line. They move and clatter in the breeze. My returning parents have had a look, but so far no nests. I do keep a few birdhouses along my fence as alternatives. It may be worth a try.

Michelle and Jean, I think what you're describing is a nestbox/hanging system that is used by Linda Violet. She reports great success with western bluebirds with this system and claims that boxes installed in this manner at not as targeted by house sparrows. I have doubts that such a system would work in my area, however, both because of climbing predators and because of the dreaded house wrens. I think, also, that house sparrow behavior may differ in different parts of the country. I, too, would worry about handling a nestbox in this manner. Bluebird eggs and young are very fragile and I would be nervous about the possibility of them being harmed during the lowering/lifting process. Unfortunately, vandalism is an issue in many places and if this system works for those using it, I'm all for it. Kathy

First off, let me commend you on wanting to help out our native birds. Nuthatches do not often use nest boxes, but an appropriate sized box with a 1 1/8 inch entrance hole is large enough for chickadees and wrens to nest in, but small enough to exclude house sparrows. Also, keep in mind that perches are not only uneccessary, but can do more harm than good as they make it easier for hungry predators to reach into a nestbox and make a snack out of eggs and nestlings. Oh yeah...a few woodpecker species such as flickers and red-bellies will use large nestboxes. If you put one up and fill the entire interior with wood shavings, you'll entice woodpeckers to "excavate" the cavity while preventing house sparrows from claiming it by blocking the cavity.

I have the same problem in Florida with my orchids. They hang in various baskets under the trees. Not only do the birds try to nest in the baskets, they love the sphagnum moss which is part of the potting mix. They also love the coir baskets, pulling chunks off the baskets which leaves big holes where all the potting mix falls out. One thing I did last year which seemed to work was to add small lava rock to the top of the potting mix. They do not like it and have left the plants alone. I removed it after nesting season and saved it for this year. I found a bunch of house wrens and finches landing in the baskets this morning and I knew it was time to get the rock out. You could probably use small gravel. Would work the same. Good luck and let us know how it goes... Jane