Hi, I too am in NW Georgia. Until yesterday I thought I would not be having a bluebird nest in the nestbox I have had up for years that has a video camera in it. Yesterday, a titmouse started to bring in materials but I was SHOCKED & VERY HAPPY to see the bluebirds going in and out of the box taking OUT the material. Just a minute ago, the titmouse came into the box and looked around and left. It came back again but so did the blues who took out more of the material. Last year Mama Blue took 13 days in March to build the nest and then she laid the first egg on April 1st. If that is going to be a repeat (that's a long time to make the nest), we are way behind schedule but it has been a much colder spring than usual. When it's egg laying time, Mama lays the egg in the morning and usually does not go into the box again that day. She will not sit on the nest for long periods of time (incubation) until all the eggs have been laid. Daddy may go in and check things but if it's egg laying time there, you won't see a lot of activity. Bluebird blessings Linda... NW Georgia (Acworth)

I would not put a suet block on top of a birdhouse, just draws in other birds which is one thing you do not want to do. If you know they will eat suet you could put it near where you see them perching alot but not on the nestbox. Not all blues will eat suet though especially if there are plenty of live bugs. Swaying in the wind won't keep them away from a nestbox, most nestboxes do sway some in the wind. Will be interesting to see which box they choose. Good luck! Donna

We have been blessed to have bluebirds nest in our bluebird house for several seasons now. When I noticed the male and female tending to the box this spring, I took a photo of the nest which showed 5 perfect bluebird eggs (4/29). Two - three days later we noticed that the pair was no longer tending to the nest. The male began to charge at his image in our windows all day every day. The female could be seen at the suet feeder from time to time but not at the bluebird house. A closer check of the house revealed a clump of pinestraw protruding from the entry and so I checked the nest. It appeared that the eggs had been stolen (by raccoons?) and only a small piece of shell was left. The birds were no longer tending to the nest and so I cleaned it out and the pole was greased with cayenne pepper to deter raccoons. Another few days went by and I noticed that the pair was tending to the box again. I waited a few more days and took a photo on 5/10 of the new nest which showed 4 white eggs in it. Ever since then the female bluebird has been diligent in tending the nest, but the male rarely goes to it. I checked the box again today 6/7 and the eggs have not yet hatched. It seems that the hatching is overdue. Are these indeed bluebird eggs? I will avoid removing anything from the nest but I'm just curious about might be going on here. Any advice? The photo from 5/10 is attached.

Hi Lyndsey- I'll give it a shot shot no one else has responded. The female builds the nest, but the male is there to inspect & approve. Maybe he doesn't like some of the material she's bringing in? If you really want expert opinion, register and n the bluebird nut cafe & you will probably get a better answer. Many experts on that site!