Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 09:24:05 EDT Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Gail Mackiernan Subject: A WREN-ching situation! Hi all -- While we were on holiday, a Carolina Wren has decided to build her nest i= n the light fixture attached to the garage door opener box (yes, well insid= e the garage). Now we will have to leave the garage door open until the youngsters fledge -- if we close it even a bit she sits outside and HOLLERS at us. Actually, if we even approach one of the cars she hollers = as well. This is weird because two years ago we had a pair of Mourning Doves selec= t the very same fixture for a nest, where they raised three broods during t= he summer. Now -- the garage is filled with lovely spots to nest, if a bird = were looking for a sheltered spot -- rafters, beams, crevices -- why have thes= e two birds selected the same light fixture? Makes you wonder if there is s= ome thing not obvious to us humans that makes it desirable. Other nesters in our garden this year included the usual House Wren, Card= inal, Robin, Catbird, Song Sparrow, Chickadee, Titmouse, W-B Nuthatch, Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Starling. The most entertaining was a pair of Fish Crows, back for the third year, which were always amusingly vocal in the morning. Missing this year were House Finch, R-T Hummingbird and Chip= ping Sparrow. Most of the youngsters have fledged by now (except the dreaded wrens) and we are looking for our first signs of migration. Cheers, Gail Mackiernan ========================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ========================================================================= ===========================================================================