Jim, They are in nest building or nesting mode depending on how lowg they have been there. When the females start nesting they go for much longer periods of time before feeding and when they do come to the feeders it is very quick and then straight back to the nest. This will continue until the eggs hatch and she can leave them a little more often. I keep my feeders up but only use 3 to 4 ounces of nectar to a feeder. Today I was gone to our area plant swap and they must have been a little more active this afternoon now that the weather has turned nice again as the nectar level in all the feeders is noticably a bit lower. Penny

When I lived in the Northwest Territories it was really hit and miss for a successful nesting season for tree swallows. If cold, rainy weather persisted for a few days, the birds would abandon their nests to forage further afield for insects. This could happen any time during the season and it was often a little heart wrenching to clean out the nest box in the fall and find five beautifully fledged out young, all dead. The parents were forced to abandon them in search of food. As for their fascination with the chickadee house I cannot offer any explanations or advice. Who knows what goes on in the brains of birds?

Don't feel guilty, although I know that's difficult. My MIL sold her house - we convinced her she really couldn't take care of it by herself - and moved in with us. We're a mere 25 miles across the Bay Bridge (San Francisco CA to Oakland CA) from where she lived for 40 years. She can still take the subway and visit her few remaining old friends. But she's been living with us for three years, and has yet to make a single friend in our (very nice) neighborhood on her own. We have her going to exercise classes and brain classes at the local senior centers, but when on her own she makes absolutely no effort to interact with anyone but her old friends in San Francisco. A lot of older people seem to be like her. I have to keep reminding myself that my idea of old age is one of my former bosses and his wife - both active, independent, mentally sharp, a great zest for life, who are always widening their circle of friends to include people younger than themselves. What a world of difference attitude makes at any age, but especially as you get older!

Years ago when i lived in NJ,someone came into my apt about 3 in the morning.Just my baby son and i were home.DH was in the Marines and overseas at the time.I was also pregnant about 6 mos. DS and i were both asleep,and i woke up when i heard someone open the door and come down the hall.I was thinking DH came home early,til i heard them flip the light switch in DS's room,and DH knew that i didn't have his light set up to come on with that switch.I jumped up in bed,and as i did so this big man came into the room.I glanced around for something to defend myself ,but there was nothing. So in a very calm voice,i said who are you and what are you doing in here!! He said nothing,just stood there.I said you better get the hell out of here right now,i'm calling the cops.He started walking back down the hall and i then noticed that he hadn't closed the door when he came in,and his keys were still in the lock.As he got towards the door i went to the phone in the kitchen as the hall forked off into a "Y",to the kitchen or the front door He went out the door,and i went out right behind him and started banging on the next door neighbors door.They opened the door and i fell apart. Neighbors DH took off bare feet and all after the guy,but he had dissappeared into the night. They told me they heard me talking and they also thought DH had come home.They called my sister and my BIL came and got me and ds and took us to their home for the rest of the weekend. The next morning my BIL took me to the housing office and reported,they were sooooooooooooooo unconcerned,said,oh it was probably just the old tenent,and he forgot he didn't live there anymore.SO BIL told them to change the locks before i came home and add a chain lock or another kind of lock as well.They had the nerve to tell him they couldn't add a second lock,their policy.BIL told him then he would,because it wasn't against his policy. I was and still am amazed at how calm i stayed while he was in my apt.But it scared the crap out of me. Kathi