My BB babies fledged almost 2 weeks ago and the parents have been returning regularly for feeding and delivery of mealies to their little ones. I've been watching closely hoping that they'd be bringing the babies back soon to feed. When they come, they often check out the empty box, go in and come out as if making sure it is still available. A couple days ago I noticed another adult male checking out the box. He was so much larger than the male of the couple that just used it. He honestly looked like he had been working out and his color was more vivid. I'm sure he is younger and stronger.

This morning while sitting on the patio to watch the original couple come for their morning mealies, I watched them do things a little differently. I assume they were attempting to coax babies to back yard feeder. One would get a mouthful of wormies and sit on top of the box while the other would sit on the fence and call over and over again, looking in the direction that they always fly when they are leaving the box. The female would occasionally get a mouthful of mealies and sit on top of a shepherd's ppole near the box and the male would call over and over again. They would fly off, come back, go inside the box and come halfway out, calling over and over again. This went on for an hour or more, but the babies never showed up. I finally had to get busy with my day, but a little later I saw a female fly up onto my covered patio, right up to the glass door as if looking in and trying to get my attention. She did this more than once, frantically ... almost like she was pleading with me to come outside. So I went outside and saw the 'muscular' male sitting on the box. He flew when he saw me. (My original couple never flew when I am around. They are quite comfortable having me right near them.) A few minutes later I could hear bluebird calls in several directions. I checked the box and saw the beginning of a new nest, but I don't know which couple is building. After I came inside I noticed the 'muscular' male go in the box and come out with a short twig in his beak. He sat on the fence doing some kind of 'dance' with the twig in his mouth, bowing and straightening over and over again.

I'm sure you BB experts know what all this means, but I'm afraid my original couple is going to get evicted and I can't do anything to help them. They may not be quite ready to build since they haven't finished feeding the babies. And I certainly don't want to witness a fight over the box. The new male is so much larger, he looks like he could hurt the others. My backyard is too small for two BB families.