Bird Watching: Autumn Blues, 1 by 2dCousinDave

2dCousinDave wrote:
Not to worry, Missy. They are just thinking ahead. On warm days I often see my pair checking out my nest boxes; sometimes even with a few pieces of straw in their beaks, but nothing serious.
Real estate is a big consideration for them. Fewer and fewer natural cavities are available anymore so there is fierce competition for the available sites. I have seen them frantically looking for nesting sites in the Spring and even invading nest boxes occupied by other Bluebirds, driving off females already nesting there.

They seem always to be on the lookout and when they do locate a nest box, it is not at all uncommon for them to visit it regularly throughout the winter. Maybe they are reassuring themselves, maybe they are sending a message to other birds that may seem interested in that location. It is much easier to defend a nest site than to evict birds already nesting there. This is especially true with house sparrows.

This picture was taken late yesterday, before it started snowing.