Tracy, at banding do you anticipate removing the bin?
That's the plan at the moment - we'll leave the gravel there though ...
Speaking of banding - any 'Ballpark' ideas on dates yet TPC - Just so any of us who want to be there can maybe arrange to try and ......be there!! 
Haven't heard back from DA Matthews yet, but yes, I do know what the range is and will be sure to post in plenty of time for y'all to make tentative plans.
Supposed to end early this evening, then 40% chance for the next few days. I wonder if Princess ever dreams about the Penthouse nestbox she did not choose....with a roof! 
**TPC - they're a bit older now, over 10 days - so if the kids get a bit wet/cool can they handle it better at this point?? 
They are in much better shape at this age than TLC were last year. You've all seen the chicks uncovered for most of the last couple of days, that's not because it was warm and windless here, but rather because they are able to thermoregulate (and getting better at it every day) and its dry. The chick piles help with the warmth as well. The could make it though light, brief rainshowers but all day drizzle/light rain they still need help with hence Princess getting soaking wet yet again. But the chicks look fine, exactly as I would expect them to look at this age in this weather. Princess is on them because she's bigger, but Trey won't be far away - he wasn't last year on June 6th and he won't be today, if only so he can go kill something whenever the chicks get too rowdy.
