Subject: [Tweeters] Ideas needed re nest boxes
Date: Mar 23 07:23:58 2012
From: judy mullally - judyemull at yahoo.com


This year in an unusual twist, my first swallow was a Violet green- before the Trees have always arrived about a week earlier. In anticipation, I had offered to clear out my neighbor's nest boxes. He always gets several pairs of each nesting. But? last year several of the nests failed due to invasion of hornets and or yellow jackets. I found abandoned chicks, unhatched eggs, and even a dead adult in the various boxes.? Last summer I had noticed the hornet and tried to eliminate their nests, but this spring discovered active nests in two already. Fortunately the day was cool? enough I was able to destroy them without getting stung.
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Any suggestions how I can keep the hornets from re-establishing nests in the boxes this year?? The top slat/roof of each house is removable, but I was afraid using any insect repellant?spray to deter them for fear of discouraging or potentially harming the swallows. I thought about painting the underside of the roof with a glossy paint so the wasps/hornets couldn't easily attach their nests, but? had the same??concerns. Has anyone else dealt with this problem ( hopefully successfully!)
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Judy Mullally- Port Angeeles WA judyemullatyahoodotcom?