Linda and I are presently watching an amazing dispute play out over who has the rights to a nest box.  For the last eleven days, a pair of white breasted nuthatches have occupied a nestbox previously used by bluebirds.  A pair of bluebirds just showed up and acted as though they were the ones who should be in that box.  Words were exchanged.  I quickly put up two more nest boxes fairly nearby.  I believe the bluebirds might already have selected one of these boxes.  
     Meanwhile, a tufted titmouse somehow got in the middle of all this, and attacked the nuthatch, who has been valiantly defending the box.  The second nuthatch has occasionally peeked out of the box, but has not left it.  
     To provide a “score” for this drama, a pair of barred owls have been calling for about  ten minutes.  
      Other yard birds today include a fox sparrow, brown thrasher, red breasted nuthatch, purple finches, and a flyover sharp shinned hawk, plus all the regulars. Who needs TV.



Joe Faulkner 
Somerset, Ohio
Perry county
Sent from iPad
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