House Sparrows will create a house just about anywhere, even on the side of a house ! Some of them cleverly use sticks and straws to wedge open a vent cap so they may slide inside.
They work tirelessly to get things looking like a home.
Father’s asking: “How do you like our house so far?”
Notice how the Sparrows use their tail feathers to help balance themselves on the side of this brick building. They easily can spike their claws into the rough surface of the bricks, then they spread their rear feathers to enable them to hold fast.
In the beginning of the nest building, pairs may take turns hauling up material and opening the hatch by pecking under its edge with their sturdy beaks.
Father’s about to deliver a bunch of bedding,
while Mother waits her turn to do the same.
Mother (left) tells Father: “No lunch breaks, dear. Open the cap and then go for more grass. We need lots of soft bedding material.”
Father replies: “Yes, dear. Got it !!”
Mother brings branches to hold the bedding together.
Sometimes it gets crowded (BELOW) as the work is nearly completed and Father’s lunch is long anticipated and overdue!
But in the end, the nest is finished, and Mother is pleased when she checks inside, then peeks out to see all is safe (BELOW):
The nest is ready for offspring.
Nature’s wondrous cycles continue every Spring, free for humankind to observe… and, perhaps, learn a trick, or two !
+++++
Credit:
Photos from the personal and copyrighted collection of Barbara Anne Helberg
