itrom.......Last year when chickadees took over our fave BB box after so many year of having only BBs in the box there were reclaim fights but the BBs did not win and we never saw any all summer and that was sad. That particular box is the one we can see easily and we love to watch them and take photos. There are two other boxes nearby so I kept asking myself why can't the cute chickadees just use those...lol. BBs have moved into the fave box and I hope there is peace! Good luck and enjoy whatever nests ...or...put up another box and if you do make sure you follow instructions as to how far from the fist one.

Congrats. They are such good bug hunters and fun to watch. Just love my Phoebes. I've had them nest in my old open shed every year for 12 years. Now a tree fell on the shed and we built a new one so I keep the doors closed. I put some nesting shelves up so I hope they still come back! Cathy

I make my own using 8 inch plastic pipe about 12 inches long. I cut out a bottom from 1 inch thick pine, drill holes in the wood as a drain, then staple a wire basket to the wood bottom out of 1/4 inch hardware cloth. The top can be tricky to attach, and I am still experimenting with different ways of doing this. Sometimes I use roofing shingles and sometimes I cut up soft drink cans to make my own shingles. I make the opening oval shaped (seems to be most effective) I have been using these boxes for almost 20 years and have had great success with them.

A pair of bluebird has become Interested in and started building in a best box. The male stood guard as the female went out and placed nesting material in the box, but after the first visit the female left for the final time and hasn't returned, the male stood guard for a few hours and now he has left too, he has returned a few times but without the female. Has she abandoned the best box or what?