Thanks for the advice and thoughts. I’m still a bit baffled. The female has returned. I’m certain it’s the same one because she knows my whistle. In the mornings I see her perched on top of the Peterson box and a new male (does not know my whistle and doesn’t seem to stick around all day) perched next door on the NABS house. The eggs are still in the box at the bottom. The once neat, then messy nest is now a neat nest again. It’s not a very cushiony nest, so maybe more will be added.
I’m guessing that this is a new mate and there will be new eggs at some point. What do you all think? I feel as if I read somewhere that BBs will take eggs out of the nest if they don’t hatch. I’m biding my time, but at some point do I consider removing the buried eggs?
Yes, Tammy I’m refrigerating the gazillion mealworms I ordered in a burst of optimism. Hopefully they’ll survive the winter in my fridge. No way will I use all of them.