Three Nests
Can you identify which 3 species have previously used this box? (Answer located at the bottom of this page.)
Photo © Sally Sims http://nestwatch.org/learn/how-to-nestwatch/identifying-nests-and-eggs/Rain is in the forecast, but for now the gray sky makes the perfect background for the lemony daffodils and hot pink hyacinths blooming under the oak tree. This morning I'm watching the battle of the birdhouse. The bluebirds and the sparrows are vying for rights to the bluebird house. Both come and cling to the front of the box and go in and out. Without a doubt, I am rooting for the bluebirds! Last summer we had two pairs of bluebirds who frequented our yard, and I've awaited their return all winter. Hopefully, they will be the ones to claim the house, but if not, I may have to do the dastardly deed of cleaning out the sparrow's nest to help them along. I never like skewing the course of nature that way, but nevertheless, I've been known to do just that.
The starlings have been a problem already this spring. During the last big snow they swarmed the feeder. I would look out the window to see only a carpet of black in the yard. I resorted to my stainless steel pot lids to drive them away. I have found that clanging two lids together makes a deafening cacophony that will raise the dead and drive away starlings. I'm sure the neighbors aren't happy with the noise, but the starlings are gone at least for the time being.
So feeding birds, driving away the noisy, greedy ones and cleaning out sparrow nests may put me on the wrong side of mother nature, but I am determined to fashion my small piece of nature to my own liking with daffodils and bluebirds.
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