A huge ruckus brought me to the back porch this afternoon, where I found a
vocal crow divebombing a vocal jay who was just a little too close to the
Bewick's Wren nest in our ancient white lilac tree. Scattered through the tree were
equally vocal wrens, chickadees, house sparrows, house finches and a robin. On
my appearance the crow flew away and the jay hopped off his perch to nab the
apparently lifeless body of a juvie wren lying on the grass under the nest.

There are three wren kids still in the nest and both adults continue to bring
food. I'll check again tomorrow.

This is the first year wrens have used this particular hole. In the past it's
been successfully utilized by the chickadees.

Catherine Alexander
Lakewood Neighborhood
South Seattle