About a month ago, Bluesman posted on the Bird watching forum about a type of entrance hole that allows Tree Swallows to enter, but not HOSP. He said - "There is a House Sparrow resistent entrance to keep them out of Tree Swallow houses but unfortunately Bluebirds cannot get in this. It works great for Tree Swallows though. I will see if I can post a picture of it. I first heard of it from a man in Canada named Bernie Nikolai. It is simply a 7\8 of an inch tall slot that is about two inches wide. It is in a thin plate around 1\8 inch thick. The House Sparrow cannot enter this but the Tree Swallows being more streamlined and slender bodied can flatten out and get right in. It works so good." The link below is the whole thread. Here is a link that might be useful: Male Purple Martin Using My Clinger Entrance Video!

Kendra, I don't know for sure but I've seen sparrows poking around on the ground too and have assumed there are seeds---weed seeds or something that they like. I have mourning doves doing the same. Congrats on your egg! I'm hoping for the same very soon.... Ann

Hey- I left a message a few posts ago with suggestions on how you can tell if they're still viable. I would leave you the same exact message. Nicole

Oh- how sad. I think the current female will want to lay her own eggs since it seems the existing eggs are from the female that died (hate that). Assuming the male is/was mating with both. Make absolutely sure the new female is not incubating those eggs. I just left in the previous message ways you can tell f the eggs are currently being incubated. My assumption is that they are not. After you know for sure that she has no interest in those eggs, remove them. You can try leaving the nest to see if they'll lay eggs in that nest, but you may end up removing the nest too, so they can build their own nest. Sorry about the loss of one of your females. Bless her heart!