Our TRES returned earlier this week, I think Tuesday. Yesterday a pair of Blues started house hunting, checking all the boxes. Apparently one of the TRES pairs has made thier decision on a nestbox already as there was a big fight this morning between the Blues and the TRES when the male Bluebird approached this nestbox. One of the TRES took him to the ground, the female Bluebird came to see what was going on and the other TRES attacked her. The TRES returned to the nestbox and the Blues to a tree nearby. The Blues did not try to go back to that nestbox but have been checking out a few others on the other side of the yard now. They have plenty boxes to choose from right now, until all the TRES return that is, they get kinda thick around here. Donna

Update: they finally stopping fighting on the 8th day, May 6. I heard Tres making noise in the morning of May 6 and looked outside, saw male bb and TRES as expected. But, TRES didn't dive bomb bb as before, they just stared at each other, sometimes just 8 ft apart. No fighting the whole day, bb hang around for a lot longer period of time that day. May 7th, bb rarely showed up. TRES carried a few straw to build nest, then stopped. Today, rain. No activity The way they are going about building nest, I don't think they will ever finish:-(

The last couple years I had Bluebirds nesting in snags in the back yard (both snags have since fallen over). I cut way down on the food in the feeders, which I usually do anyway in the summer, because I didn't want to attract House Sparrows. Would put out a little BOSS, but only put out the home-made suet nuggets if the Bluebirds wanted some. This Spring, I had a pair of Baltimore Orioles nesting in a large Pin Oak right above the feeders. Did the same thing, cut down on the food in the feeders, because the Orioles were very territorial about the tree. They were especially aggressive towards Blue Jays, Grackles, and Crows so I stopped throwing any tidbits on the ground (like old corn chips, which the Jays and Crows like). So I would favor the security of the nesting birds. During the summer and fall, there are normally abundant natural sources of food, so feeders are not critical. Birds eat a lot of insects and feed their young insects, so they are unlikely to starve if you aren't feeding them.

Nevermimd, found out my yard is far to small to accompany 2! Oh well. Maybe I'll put one in my front yard.