How can you go all your life without getting stung? Given that I (and my parents when I was living at their place) raise a ton of things that bees love, including bee balm and butterfly bushes, it's kind of amazing. I was always taught to respect their territory since they're doing a job and wait for them to leave the space before I start fiddling with it. In recent years, I've discovered we can both share the same space as long as I don't directly bother the bee. Never swat at them, try not to sweat (they don't like the smell) and don't be afraid (they can detect that, too). I've had them fly into my hair, down my shirt, and land on my hands and face. If you just wait for them to disentangle themselves (or lift the shirt for space), they go away. I did freak out a little when a hummingbird decided that she knew me fairly well and that I would make an excellent perch. It was too much of a surprise and I scared the bird. Too bad, I wouldn't have minded a hummingbird friend at all.

I picked a hole saw slightly smaller than the top of the net cup. My net cups stick up about a 1/4" unless I force them in. No problems with light. Are you circulating your water from a res ? I circulate my water and add air lines into the water in the PVC. I use perlite or hydroton. This pic is from last year in July........

Jeff, is that extra top how you open your box? Don't believe I have seen one like that, but doesn't look like you have a front or side door. I believe everyone is really anxious for nesting season - I know I am. Like Nicole says, bluebirds love mealworms and it is a great way to attract them. However, we must never forget that anything we feed them is to be used as a treat, as they need to hunt and eat natural food. My blues stay around all winter, and during that time I feed them peanutbutter suet, but only as a supplement to the berries, etc. they find themselves. P.S. I didn't think that picture was a bluebird, but was unsure what it was - don't know too much about scrub jays.

I'm ok with the hole there, although I also would have been fine with them just running that pipe below the floor joist level and avoiding cutting through it since it only runs perpendicular for one joist. Do you think I should have them reinforce it with a metal plate similar to the link that was provided below or leave it as is for now and see and the crack gets any larger over time? The builder (who subcontracts the work) has a 60 day and 1 year service call where they come out to address things like this, and the house will be covered under a 12 year structural warranty.