Bird Houses and Bird Nests. Do you have one this Spring?

We put a birdhouse up a few weeks ago and within days a bird was swooping in and out and nest building. It's a Tree Swallow.



They line their completed nest with feathers. I got this pic of the nest the other day.




We did some reading online and those who do nest monitoring say you can open the nest box and check all you want and it just doesn't bother the birds. I'm limiting myself to once a week so will check next weekend for eggs.

Yesterday evening we were sitting outside and noticed a flurry around the nest box. At first we thought mom and dad were changing position, and then realized dad was sitting on the fence keeping guard. Apparently another swallow was having a look and was chased off. The second swallow went around the yard a few times and stopped at our new nest box that OH put up last week on the other side of the yard. The swallow popped in and out a few times so we are hoping he swooped off to tell the Mrs. he'd found a home for them. Fingers crossed.

Any nesting birds in your garden?

Prior to this all we had was a mourning dove in a tree and another nesting in the rain gutter (not a good spot for them).

Bird Houses and Bird Nests. Do you have one this Spring?