Last spring I had a Bewick Wren build a nest in the eaves of my porch. This
is a popular nesting spot because I've had the Western Flycatcher build
nests there twice.

Anyway, I read somewhere - probably on the internet - that the Bewicks male
builds several nests, and the female picks the one she likes best. The
pair of Bewicks did not use the nest that was built on my porch for raising
a family.

I left the nest up all winter and the Bewicks uses it to sleep in,
especially during the coldest nights. It was pretty funny one cold
evening, I was sitting out on my porch and I watched the Bewicks settle into
the nest for the night. Along come a pair of Winter Wrens. They hopped
into the nest like it was there - I heard a loud squawk and off went the
Winter Wrens, looking for some other cozy place to spend the night.

As to belling the cat - I also read somewhere the putting a bell on the cat
doesn't really save birds because they don't recognize the bell as a threat
noise, I don't know if that's true or not.

Connie
Bainbridge Island, WA
Mail to connie.bickerton at verizonbusiness.com

//I was very surprised this morning to discover a Bewick's wren building a
nest inside the front handlebar bag of my bike that's parked on the side
porch. //