My deck went up in 1998. I received a “deck warming” gift of a bird house which was installed the same year. Every year since then a pair of chickadees have nested in the bird house. I even noticed in the early spring, the chickadees would have to chase off small sparrows and/or wrens who found the house appealing and wanted to claim it as their own.
Last summer I found a pile of birds feathers near the bird bath and sadly suspected they belonged to one of my chickadees. My suspicions proved true. This spring no chickadees nested there, no sparrows, no wrens. For the first time in 17 years no birds in the bird house.
Barb Evett, Peterborough
Male House Sparrow (WikiMedia)
