I've been looking through your posts/pictures.. just wow! So do they tolerate you being outside with them when they eat? I am thinking of making some sort of "bird photo" area. Like finding some nice branches and making a scene. Any suggestions? My next idea is using my window feeder with pink geraniums in the background in a planter...the bluebirds have started using the feeder already.

When I say under the eaves, actually, there was a little opening under the eave that went into the attic, if that makes sense. We built this house 3 years ago and we never even noticed the space. That's how small it is. They were inside of that space, not on the outside of the house. I checked pics of starlings, crows, cowbirds and grackles, and they most resembled grackles. They had long tails, and long dark beaks, and really looked like miniature crows. I do think they were grackles. As of today, we believe they are gone. They sure were messy little things. My husband is going up into the attic this weekend to see what kind of mess they made in there. I'm not sure that where the nest is will be accessible from the attic however, because the room that the opening was over is a room with a cathedral ceiling. If he can't get to it from the attic, he will have to seal it up from the outside. The space is so small that he will not be able to see inside to observe the nest or the mess from the outside.

Thanks guys. It is really fun to watch them. Crazy things. :o)

I see you're in Zone 7, so the MB are most likely permanent residents. The same pair will build several nests within their territory during the season. They will protect that territory from other MB, so it's probably the same pair all season using the nest. They seldom use the same nest season to season, but they do seem to favor the same area each year.