I have always seen green leaves. This year they are bringing them in well before egg laying started.

I wouldn't consider myself a veteran, but I've never heard of it. I would love to see a picture if you can get one.

Adding a picture can be difficult. It has to be greatly downsized. Really haven't figured it all out yet myself.

No way to know for sure, but it sounds like it was his time to go.

I hate to hear that and sorry I'm not knowledgable enough to answer your question. Do you also have a metal baffle that it was able to get around?

Good to hear. I think your fine lowering the housing from time to time. Just don't overdue it and pick your times. Keep after the invaders.

I'm thinking no as well. Sometimes it is easy to miss them coming in or other times I think there is none in the housing and then one comes out of a nest. I have noticed they get more comfortable with the housing being lowered as they realize you are doing no harm and it becomes parr of the routine.

I have a blue bird house that is 130' away from my Martin housing. Further away than is recommended, but that happens to be where it's always been. The blue birds use the Martin housing to set and hunt from, but I've never had a problem with them trying to nest. Your biggest problem might be getting...

I see no problem in leaving the nesting material in. No different than prenesting. Just my 2 cents.

Not sure where your at in PA, but the scout report is showing sy birds in PA. Nevertheless keep playing the toons and don't give up. Your efforts will be worth it when they stay.

I do, if there not causing a problem now they might in the future. I also figure they are stealing a nesting cavity from another native bird somewhere else so I take the opportunity to eliminate them when it arises.

That's great, waiting to see what my end result will be when the sy birds get into full swing.

That's the only thing that makes sense to me as well. I have seen them do some low feeding over the tops of the pasture grass here from time to time. I does seem they adapt to what's available.

Probably going to get different opinions on this one. Martins are the best Martin attractant and your nesting pair might very well draw more in. I don't think it hurts to play it as long as you don't see that your nesting pair is taking exception to it. My thought process is that if you can help you...

Here it is.

That may not work based on what your predator is which is unknown. They could climb your bucket and then reach to the top of your pipe. The concept is to have your pipe 2' off the ground so they can't reach the top of the pipe and pull their self up. This means they have to start climbing the pole. ...

As much as I would like to know what has been causing the destruction, I hope this solves your problem and it goes away.

I agree with the previous advice you received. Just because you don't get them this doesn't mean you won't get them. Stay the course and let them continue to visit. This could very well be laying the ground work for next year. Are you playing the dawn song, decoys, prenesting?

In addition to being 2' long it should be 2' off the ground.

If you only have netting, maybe add a metal predator guard.