I was tense part of the time.... I give my hats off to cleveland, they played tough and hard... the last game was not a indication of how this series ran. Boy am I tired though =) Im hoping for a sweep ! Less days to stay up.

Donna, good question! I checked my dees box when I thought they were laying and found not one single egg but then found three the next day so obviously the other two were there the day before, I just couldn't see them. I don't like to poke around since the eggs are so fragile. After I know that at least the first is laid I keep my calendar and then check at the end of what would be the 6th egg. Momma dee is generally incubating by then and if I can knock and get her to leave w/o time to cover her eggs, THEN I can get a correct count. Don't worry, she'll be back! :D I had the craziest dee fledging ever this year. One baby's foot was STUCK TIGHT on something in the nesting material. On day 22, I'd had enough and decided I had to look to see if the babies were OK. The other 3 had fledged (I had six eggs, one unhatched and one baby that died early on and was buried in the nest, part of what the little dees was "stuck" on) so this last little dee had been alone in that box for (probably) 3 or 4 days! Thank heavens I made the decision to open the box. It took me ten minutes and a bowl of warm water to get the leg/toe unstuck! I was shaking like a leaf but all went well. I put the dee, nest and all, back in the box and the adults were there in minutes to get him. I'm sure he was thrilled to finally be able to fledge! I am absolutely wild about my dees.... probably my favorite box nester. Shhhh, don't tell the blues! As far as the wren guard, I think it should be safe to add it now that she's started laying. Just keep a close eye out to be sure she figures it out. If she doesn't seem to accept it you might have to remove it and try again in a day or two.

Congratulations Donna! It is very hard to believe they can even hold their heads up isn't it? So naked compared to Blues too. It is not uncommon to have an egg or two not hatch with Dees. Mine are about ready to fledge if the Blues will leave them alone. They have been harassing them relentlessly for two days. They can't get in the box but will not leave them alone. I wish they'd just take care of their own babies. They fledged a week ago. Oh well Continued success Cathy

Hey Keith, You are right, they are the same thing. I use the terms interchangably. You can make your own or buy them already made. I get mine from www.sparrowtraps.net and have also bought a sparrow trap from them. I buy enough mounting brackets to go on each of my boxes, putting the mounting bracket on as soon as I make a house. I then add the spooker as soon as the first egg is laid. I have never had a blue bird not accept a spooker, nor have I ever had a sparrow try to claim a box after a spooker has been added. I had two spookers from last year and I bought 4 more this year thinking that six would be enough. However, I now have 10 boxes with blue birds and three with tree sparrows. I need to order (or make) seven or eight more to make sure I am covered. Phil