Diane, all,

With respect, just a couple of words about nestboxes:

1) A lot of nestbox monitors (including me!) recommend that "if you're not 
going to monitor them, don't put them up."  I'm not saying you're implying 
that they should be put up and not monitored, I'm just saying....

2) If there are HOSP there, I wonder if it's a good idea to put up 
nestboxes, unless you're willing to engage in some kind of trapping program. 
  Otherwise, it's likely that bluebirds (and Tree Swallows) will nest in the 
boxes and then the HOSP will come in and take over -- it's not pretty.  For 
pictures of what such a death trap results in, go to

http://www.sialis.org/hospattacks.htm

the graphic written descriptions on that page are more disheartening than 
the pictures....

Paul Kilduff
Baltimore
nestbox trail at Oregon Ridge Park, Cockeysville (Baltimore County)


Date:    Mon, 19 Mar 2007 11:54:42 -0700
From:    diane Ford <>
Subject: Blue bird boxes & Ken-Gar Park

Hi All,

  Made a short bird walk to Ken-Gar Park in Kensington.  While I was there, 
I
saw 2 pairs of Eastern Bluebirds. Apparently there is only 1 nesting box, 
and it is in bad condition.  I've only seen Bluebird's
here briefly; it seems they want to nest, but don't have anything to nest 
in, plus there is a good population of house sparrows, so
they leave. Does anyone have BB boxes that can go up there? I think 4- 5 
boxes spaced outside the soccer field would help.

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