>Karen, how utterly delightful! Off and on for years (in Bellevue),
>we've had Bewicks nesting behind an elaborate piece of driftwood
>hanging just to the left of the front door. They acted offended and
>anxious that we were encroaching on their territory when we used our
>front door--but it hasn't stopped them. One year my stepson was
>rebuilding the deck. No problem. Last spring we had the unutterable
>pleasure of watching six or eight babies fledge--their personalities
>were apparent by their variable courage or reluctance to flutter to
>the deck and ground. Within the hour they'd disappeared into the
>undergrowth. I hung a really nice birdhouse above the driftwood,
>because one year something got the nestlings while we were out of
>town, scattering them around the porch. Nope, it's gotta be the
>driftwood (we've had chestnut-backed chickadees in the birdhouse.) I
>think we also had winter wrens behind the driftwood one year. I
>remember some friends who had a wreath ON their front door. The
>wrens found that a fine nesting spot, and were apparently
>successful. I've always thought the chickadees and wrens nested so
>close to human activity for protection from more formidible enemies.
>I'll be interested to see what experiences others have had, and what
>the suggestions are about the cats.

kathy hornbein
estes park CO
kurlew at earthlink.net

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