House sparrows are extremely prolific and a single pair will lay several clutches of eggs throughout a season. They will nest in just about any nook or cranny they can find, even if it belongs to another bird to begin with. They're an absolute terror at feeding stations. They'll chase away and even attack other birds at feeders. I once saw a goldfinch in my yard get brutally mobbed by three of them. Luckily he escaped with only some missing feathers. The saddest part about it was that they never really used the feeder he happened to be feeding from.

There are some birds that lay their eggs in another birds nest. The Cuckoo, Cowbird, Whyda, Honeyguide and Black-headed Duck come to mind. "These birds, called brood parasites, lay their eggs in another bird's nest and let the other bird parents feed and raise their chicks. The "egg abandoner" is then free to mate again and lay more eggs in another nest. The cuckoo is the best known brood parasite and an expert in the art of cruel deception. Its strategy involves stealth, surprise and speed. The mother removes one egg laid by the host mother, lays her own and flies off with the host egg in her bill. The whole process takes barely ten seconds. Cuckoos parasitize the nests of a large variety of bird species and carefully mimic the colour and pattern of their own eggs to match that of their hosts. Each female cuckoo specializes on one particular host species. How the cuckoo manages to lay eggs to imitate each host's eggs so accurately is one of nature's main mysteries."

Dax, Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but if you don't intend to properly mount the boxes, monitor them all once or twice a week, and control invasive species like house sparrows and european starlings in your area, then you won't get bluebirds in your boxes. If you do and don't control house sparrows in your area, one day your bluebirds or any other cavity nester you get will be attacked by sparrows. It sounds like you are willing to learn and we all have to start somewhere. I would like to invite you to join the bluebird nut cafe and post your question there for much more professional help and advice as to what you should do. Hope to see you there. http://bluebirdnutcafe.yuku.com/forums

Evening, Everybody! First of all, HI Peggy! Nice to hear from you! Beth just posted the September FOTESS swap, why don't you join us this month!? Secondly, Annie, I have that Butterfly embossing folder, never thought to use my silver paper with it! Is it silver paper or foil? And thirdly, and most importantly, yes, Darrin, the package was waiting for me when I got home today and I have to tell you, I was astounded and thrilled at all the goodies you and Ellie packed in there! Good Grief, what a fantastic package! My pictures don't do it justice, but I'll post them anyway. But first, Darrin, don't stress about the Cerulean Blue notecards, I've received them like this before, nothing is wrong with them! And secondly, what is the little ladybug ornament/jewelry? I can't figure it out. In any event, Ladies, Darrin and Ellie sent me two packs of notecards, one with beautiful flowers and the other has a picture of the Cerulean Blue Warbler on them. Really pretty! Also, two beautiful hummingbird picks/stakes, with fluttery wings, will save these for my containers next year. A motion activated robin, another beautiful butterfly bookmark, a very unique pair of tweezers two little keychain lights and a 6 inch ruler with chicks on it were also included. They sent me a cross-stitch pattern for a Cerulean Warbler, which I'm not going to start until I retire next year. Great project for winter and it will give me some time to review how to do this! Ellie, where did you find this pattern? We're not done yet! I got two packs of seeds: Firecracker Penstemon, for the Hummers, and Evening Star sunflower seeds! 6 packages of hot chocolate mix, a gazillion assorted flavored teabags and 2 Dove bars! If it weren't 97 in the shade, I'd be enjoying one of these now! And my favorite out of the whole glorious package, a beautiful white ceramic mug with a pic of the Cerulean Blue Warbler on it! Darrin, this is so pretty! And I can tell you read my post about the Warblers being one of my favorite birds! How sweet of you guys to take the time and trouble to find something you knew I would like. This mug will always be special to me. Darrin and Ellie, I can't thank you enough for this package, I never expected all of this and I am thrilled with all of it. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Shirley! Okay, I'm having trouble posting the pictures. I'll be back as soon as I figure it out. WhooHooo!! Did it! Isn't that mug lovely?