The first broods of bluebirds, Carolina wrens, and chickadees have fledged. So should we rid the nest boxes of old nest material and all its mess as soon as babies fledge? Research says, that depends.

Bailey has seen footage of scrub jays out West perching in nest box holes and reaching their beaks in to grab nestlings. House sparrows will evict other birds from a nest box they want to take over.