Subject: [Tweeters] Ideas needed re nest boxes
Date: Mar 23 08:16:47 2012
From: Mechejmch - mechejmch at aol.com



I screw a small piece of 1/4" plywood over the hole after the nesting season, and remove it when I see the birds return in spring. It's all about timing, and it usually works.

Joe Meche
Bellingham







-----Original Message-----
From: judy mullally <judyemull at yahoo.com>
To: tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Fri, Mar 23, 2012 7:24 am
Subject: [Tweeters] Ideas needed re nest boxes



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.

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!)

Judy Mullally- Port Angeeles WA judyemullatyahoodotcom


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