[Monica]

There's a family of starlings that always nest in a certain spot that so happens to be a part of the house... I'm not completely sure why we have it (other than it's part of "overhang" on the side of the house) or why it's open... but that area has been an area for the starlings nest for several years (I'm sure for longer than we've lived here). Well, I really have no issue with that, other than when it comes time to fledge... however, chicks have fallen out of the nest that were far too young to be fledged. The opening to the nest points at roughly 25 degree angle down (going from the center of the house) I believe.

Around that area there tends to be yard stuff in the area, among other things.... so there's been times that we've lost some chicks trying to get into something to hide (such as from dogs or just for safety reasons). I just wish that the starlings wouldn't fledge their chicks until their chicks were old enough to fly! There was one chick that fell from the nest probably around a week or so old.... Then they fledge about 2 weeks of age, if we're lucky around 3 weeks, but they can't fly... which gets them into all sorts of trouble!


At least on the brighter side of things.... none of our trees have ever had any bird nests in them... until this year. I saw the nest but I didn't see a bird... from previous experiences I knew it was a goldfinch nest, and low and behold, a few days later the mother bird was sitting in the nest! I occasionally go and "check" on her (even though the nest is about 5' above my head), and sometimes while I'm wandering around below, she'll pop her head over the side to get a "closer look" at me!

I've also seen a pair of cedar waxwings which sounded almost like a cricket or??? when they called out. Also believe I saw a northern "bullock's" oriole. Both birds aren't necessarily common around here. Have also spotted what looks like a white throated sparrow a while ago... haven't seen them lately so I can't give an accurate identification, I just remember that it looked like a sparrow with a black and white striped head... So, in truth I'd love to see them again!