Donna, Not to worry, I am only now trying to use things like YouTube. Here's one way to get to the videos: www.youtube.com Search box: 2bluwings This should list 3 videos I have posted. Here's another way that I should have posted originally (sorry): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TZI2xw5l00 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeV5VgVdPTU&feature=channel_page Those are the 2 ones re. the bluebirds. Here's one about how I found a downy woodpecker roosting in the bluebird box. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgo8mVkfhyc&feature=channe I hope these work for you. I found that as I was entering my videos, a lot of bird videos came up, too. Some of them are quite remarkable. Kathy, I have been glued to the video feed from the nest box since 2005 so this will be my 5th year. My husband is already lamenting the fact that we'll have only one channel: BirdTV. I told him that I'm going to try this year to bring the video into the computer so he can have his TV :) Bluebird blessings, Linda...

Hello, I have a problem with my beloved bluebirds I am hoping someone can help me with. We had a successful fledging a few weeks ago and then they came back and built another nest. Laid four eggs. I went out and one was destroyed and on the ground. The other three were in the very bottom of the nest making it hard for mama to even know they were there. A few days later she started building a nest on top of that nest. When I saw it, I pulled the other nest up on top of it so she could see the three eggs. Now she has laid two new eggs so far in with the old ones. And the nest is very high now and close to the hole. What will happen with old and new eggs in there? And should I try to squish the nest down from the hole more?

Yes, Lornas, even though you trap the raccoons, other animals are also of concern including snakes. It would be a good idea to move the box now and it can be done if you're careful. All of my nestboxes are mounted on 3/4" electrical conduit with stovepipe baffles to protect from climbing predators. The pole should be located at least 10' away from fences, trees, etc., to prevent animals from jumping to the nestbox. I would remove the nest, carefully, from the nestbox and place it in a shoebox. Cover it with a lid and set it aside until the move is complete. Then remove the nestbox from the fence and mount it to the newly located pole (I have Home Depot or Lowe's cut the conduit at a 7' length and then I pound at least 12" of the pole into the ground). Once the nestbox is mounted, carefully replace the nest and then watch the box from a distance to be certain the parents accept the change. Many of us have learned the hard way that mounting nestboxes to fences and trees may work for a time but eventually the predators catch on. Once a box has been raided, the predator knows where to find an easy meal. It's bad enough to lose eggs or hatchlings to a predator, but a box mounted on fences and trees also puts the breeding pair of birds at risk. Take care and let us know if we can be of further help. Kathy

I think you did the best thing, Chris, but I must comment regarding your mentioning that bluebirds are portrayed as timid and lacking in skills to defend their territory. In the past, bluebird territory differed from that of house wrens. As someone who has been a bluebird enthusiast and monitor for many years, I must say that wrens are no longer reading the manual and are not following the rules on where they are supposed to nest! Bluebirds can and do defend themselves and their nests (Dave, you need to repost your bluebird/hosp battle photos), but house wrens are the sneakiest of birds. They are quick and can be in and out of a nestbox in a matter of seconds. BlueBars can tell you of the battle between a bluebird and a house wren inside a nestbox and I'll simply say that the wren left minus some feathers. Unfortunately, even an incubating female bluebird must leave the nestbox occasionally and that is when the wren seems to appear. House sparrows are another thing entirely. They are non-native and are extremely aggressive towards not only bluebirds but towards all other native cavity nesters. A bluebird, tree swallow, chickadee or titmouse is simply not equipped to battle a house sparrow inside a nestbox. I have witnessed the result of such attacks too many times and hope it is something you never experience. Since man, in his great wisdom, brought house sparrows to America to "help", house sparrows have wreaked havoc not only on crops they were supposed to protect (from insects), but on native bird species as well. House sparrows do not need cavities (nestboxes) to nest in but studies show that if a house sparrow is allowed to fledge from a nestbox, it will look for one when it is time for it to breed. That is why it is so important for people to monitor nestboxes when they put them up. In all my years of monitoring bluebird trails, I must say that the word timid is not a word I would associate with this beautiful, brave, determined bird. You will come to see this for yourself if you monitor your nestbox closely and let them teach you about their battle to survive. I promise that your heart will be broken now and then--Mother Nature will have her way--but you will also come to know just how precious their lives are and why we all work so hard to protect them. Kathy