Box 2: There has been barely any progress and it looks kind of the same. Also I wish something interesting would happen.
Box 3: The last egg is gone. We don't know what's eating them but it's gone. There were no alive birds near or inside the box.
Side note from Mrs. Parker: I just found some information on http://www.sialis.org/predatorid.htm for possible predators:
Mice (Peroymscus spp. or Microtus spp.) Mouse nest (box filled with grass, leaves, scraps of paper and cloth, feathers, fur) in box, mouse leaps out of box when opened, eggs eaten or missing, chewed (esp. legs and wings) or dead nestlings. May not eat eggs and just usurp box. Strong ammonia smell after roosting during winter. Leave box open or plugged in winter. Remove nests. Add predator guard. Take care of Hanta Virus - do not breath dust or detritus from box!
Snakes, esp. Black Rat (Elaphe obsoleta). Garter snakes. Nest intact, but usually all (possibly some) eggs (egg numbers go down and up over time) or nestlings (esp. unfeathered, and those near fledging) suddenly gone, female missing, or parents still around, snake found in box. No traces of eggs shells or nestling remains. MAY find snake feces (little round or egg-shaped balls with tightly compressed hair or feathers, usually smaller than a bluebird egg.)
Esp. in South, and areas where mice are common and near wood edges, and boxes without snake-proof guards or on fence rows. (Large snakes can get over 24" diameter cone guards)
Rat snakes may prey on nests day or night.
Use a stove pipe baffle/Kingston Guard or Krueger Snake Trap, or a five foot length of 4" PVC sitting in a one foot diameter circle of clean sand. Keep grass and brush trimmed around pole. More.
Box 4: We found nothing inside, there was not even straw! Our group was mildly disappointed, but we are ready for the next time! Also, hopefully there are eggs we will be able to watch!
Box 5: Our little friend was no where to be found just a little gunk.