OK - So the HS chased the TSs away and started nesting. I trash their nests every chance I get - I don't own a means to kill them yet but I might need to change that. This afternoon, I saw another PM checking out the house only to be pestered by HS until it left. It looked like it might be having problems with the SREH also. I may open them up all the way - I only saw starlings for a day or two in late March. It seems that I've lost out on having the TSs in a nest enough to protect my PM site.
On the other side of my house, I have a pair of TSs that are about 70% commited to a house that is on my fence. My idea is to wait until they have an egg and them move the PM house to that side of the house. I know that I may be too late altogether, but it seems to be my best shot for this year.
That raises a few questions. The TS house is mounted on the inside of my fence where I can monitor it from my house. It is only about 4 feet above the ground and my dogs take occasional interest in it. They were jest getting dive bombed by the TSs about 15 mins ago. Is it safe for me to move the TS house to the outside of the fence in the same spot? Should I try to make it a little higher? A side note, a BB house on that side of the house seems to have had both parents killed - all I found were a few blue feathers and 4 chicks that seemed to have died from neglect. I'm not sure if they were killed by critters or birds. Also, if I do move the PM house to 25' from the TS nest, does it matter if the hole in the house faces the PM house or not. If so, that would be another reason to move the TS house to the outside of the fence.
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