In The Beginning...

...there were nest boxes.  :)

A few years ago, I put out some next boxes for the blue birds, and everyone of them were used.  I had blue birds all over the place.

After about 3 years, other birds started pecking at the entry hole to make it lager for themselves and these others started using the nest boxes.  Eventually there was only one left for the blue birds.

This year, I ordered 4 more, with the holes on these "reinforced" so they're harder for the other birds to re-work.  

So now, my front and back yard resembles a bird sanctuary.  :)  Four boxes in the front and four in the back, all a mixture of new and old.  The blue birds came and proceeded to nest box hunt and settled on one of the boxes in the front yard.  They are the only ones this year, but I'm hoping for more next year, word should have gotten out by then.

The older boxes are used mostly by finches and sparrows, but this year, I have a pair of crested flycatchers nesting in one of the older boxes in the backyard.  I recently found out what they were from The National Audubon Society on FB.  

They're very pretty, and while I've taken pictures of them before, not knowing what kind of birds they were, now I do.

I think the papa bird might be a little annoyed at me taking pictures of him...

...oh yeah, he was annoyed.  Ever see a bird give attitude before?

Now we wait for the chicks to fledge, I hope I can catch them.