Jay et al, We erected a Kestrel box in our yard 3 years ago. The first two days, a male considered it but Starlings ran him out! So for the first two years, we would have to cover the entrance hole to keep them out. Kestrels did not return UNTIL this year!!! When a pair of the little beauties successfully reared at least THREE babies! It was such fun to watch them learn to fly around our yard. I didn't even mind that our feeder birds decreased (or I should say left our feeders for others). My point is if nest boxes are erected, they must be monitored! OR they will become starling/sparrow nurseries and we CERTAINLY do NOT need any more of them!! Not many birds found in our area recently! And since our 40 foot Blue Spruce tree was felled by the severe winds Friday, our feeders will continue to be full. But we still enjoy reading about other's sightings. Keep up the great viewing!! Oh, our Bald Eagles are adding to their nests (we have TWO in Mercer County!!!!) Happy birding, Jill Auglaize County Jill Bowers ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]