Tim,

If I follow you correctly, you had 4 boxes on 2 posts and Tres were in 2 of them before the EABB nested? And when she did the EABB wouldn't allow a 3rd TRES to nest ? Are there 2 pairs of TRES on any of the double boxes? That would be odd. I read your other post, but it didn't answer my question.

1. So pairing th eboxes DID give the blues a chance to nest?
2. two TRES did NOT nest in a paired box simultaneously?
3. The BB has one side of a paired box and didn't want the tres to nest on the other side of the paired box?
4. Had the TRES been on the one side of the double box, would the BB have taken the other side?

I have a trail and was thinking about pairing boxes, but fortunately a pair of EABB claimed the last box in that field and are nesting. I have one EABB nest in each field of my trail. Guess its true about the 300 feet distance between boxes.

Thanks
Pam

Tim, I was a little confused too on your paired boxes. I gather at one site of the two boxes you have a pair of blues that wouldnt let TRES nest that close. What about the other two paired boxes, what is in them?

At a park near our home where I have nestboxes I had two sets of paired boxes at 15 feet apart. So I had two boxes 15 feet apart then over 300 feet and not within site another pair of boxes 15 feet apart. I've only had one box ever used as nothing would let another bird nest even that close. Here at my house I have paired boxes 25 feet apart and get Blues and TRES nesting fine with that distance in between them. So around here you need at least 25 feet to get both Blues and TRES, I do know other places have different results though. Late this Spring I moved my park boxes approx 40 feet apart as I am fine if we get two pairs of TRES in each set of boxes. Will see what happens next Spring with them.

I too have a TRES box with 7 in it, however the all hatched the other day! Here is a pic from Sat....

If all my TRES hatch we will have 54 hatchlings out of 9 boxes!

Oh my, those are just adorable. I sure hope they can keep up with seven mouths to feed. I have paired boxes at 30 feet apart and the Bluebirds and TRES have never had a problem.

Tim, wishing you the best of luck with this EABL nesting. Hope all goes well and all four of those eggs hatch and grow.

Pam:
1: Yes
2: No
3: Yes
4: Haven't had that happen yet.

And no, there aren't any pairs with TRES in both boxes. In my experience, they won't let another pair nest anywhere near them. (for example, a purple martin house that has multiple apartments would only have one pair of TRES)

dz, the other paired boxes has TRES in one side with 6 eggs and the other box previously had HOSP building, but after being unable to trap them and removing two of their nests, they are now no where to be found. The box is now vacant.

I wish I could get you guys a pic of my TRES nestlings! I have a total of 10 right now. 4 are fully feathered and peaking out of the hole. the other 6 just hatched out of my largest clutch yet - 7 eggs! The 7th appears to still be hatching.

Tim, the closest I have two pairs of TRES nesting is 25 feet apart. That happened "only" because one pair had a nest with eggs when a lone TRES showed up and claimed the paired box. For some reason they didn't see this lone TRES as a threat like they do when a pair shows up. The lone TRES was in and out of the box for a week or two before another one showed up and now they have eggs too which should be hatching any day now. This is the second time I have had two pairs of TRES nesting that close but it isn't the norm, they don't normally let another TRES nest even that close.

Donna