Great Crested Flycatcher story

sorry, no pictures.
we've had a Bluebird nest box on a power pole for several years. the Bluebirds never used it but they do use others on our property.

the first year a Titmouse family claimed it. the second year Woodpeckers enlarged the hole and set up housekeeping. this year i was wondering what bird would use it when i began seeing two birds going in and out and they were rather large and kind of rufous colored on the top (as they'd fly out and head to the field, i'd see their backsides).

i got the binoculars out and began watching and was delighted to see the Flycatchers. i had to read up on them because i didn't realize they would use a house.
so everything is going good except that a palm frond is pressing down on the roof and causing the house to move, and move, and move and yesterday i happened to be watching when down it came. there was no bird inside at the time. i ran over immediately, picked it up and called for my partner. he grabbed a ladder and took down the back board that was screwed to the pole. he then took the bottom out of the house so he could fix it properly.

the nest had two broken eggs in it which i deposed of. then we set about fixing it as quickly as possible. as we were working, i looked over and both birds were on the ladder and looking frantically for their home. we got it all back together nice and sturdy but when we put it back up the birds were gone. i was heartbroken.

the nest, btw, was on top of a previous nest which was very flattened out at the bottom of the box. their nest consisted of some fine wisps of grass, many chicken feathers and a few pieces of plastic that resembled snake skin but wasn't. we put everything back in the house exactly like it came out save for the eggs.

so all of this morning i've been watching and hoping and suddenly they were there, checking it out from every direction and sitting on top, looking in the hole. finally after much deliberating, one went in and stayed in! at least long enough to lay another egg, i'm hoping.

i never really dreamed they'd come back and use it like nothing happened. perhaps their kind of nesting sites are so scarce that they just had to go for it, i don't know, but i'm sure relieved that they seem to be progressing onward without fear.

That's wonderful tracks! Be sure to keep us posted.

i will!

I do hope that you'll have a family in there soon. It's a good thing you saw the house had fallen and were able to get it back up asap.

how neat is that and so kind of you & your partner to help out!

i figured we had no choice! we're the landlords so it's our responsibility! LOL