no successful nests this year in Knoxville TN

[twrose1946]

Been housing for 14 years in back yard with normal 8 to 12 nests. this year only had 3 males and one female arrive, build most of a nest, then leave after 2 weeks. have tree swallows that have taken over bluebird box for last 3 to 4 years.. some other bird that I never saw built a nest in BB box and one gourd ( I use only natural gourds), nesting material is sticks. I'm lost as to what te remedy is?

[randyM]

The bird that built the stick nest in your bluebird box was likely a house wren. Not sure why your colony had fewer nests this year than in the recent past. Do you conduct regular nest checks during the season every 7-10 days? If so, how many nests and young fledged from your site last year?

[scottfreidhof]

Difficult to know what might have caused them to leave. Maybe a tree has grown too close to your housing over the past 14 years. Can you attach a photo of your backyard with the housing in view?

[flyin-lowe]

Usually, there are only a few reasons martins would abandon a site. Predators are the main one. I have seen colonies near me that are old and have trees now touching the housing. As long as the predators aren't attacking them then they will even put up with that. So if your housing has not fallen apart to the point the weather is an issue, I would look at predators (snake, racoons, owls, HOPS, Starlings, etc.).