I checked one on my many nesting boxes and one house sparrow nest 
already has 5 eggs.  Please, this statement is not meant to inflame 
Bluebird advocates.  I empty several boxes and leave a few for the 
sparrows ... soft-hearted I am.

  My grandkids call him the "Crazy" Cardinal.  He perches in the tree 
branch 4 feet from the big window and flies at his reflection, repeatedly, 
unless he flies off to chase a real male cardinal or pay attention to the 
female perching nearby.  This is his fourth year.  One year, when  I would 
scare him away from the back window, he would fly to the front window and 
continue.  I found that hanging 4 ft. long pieces of ribbons from the top 
of the window stops him ... until one or 2 pieces get tangled and leave 
him enough room to attack that magical mirage in the window.  

Jim Wilson
Queenstown