NEST BOX DRAMA: HOUSE WREN VS. HOUSE SPARROW

GARTH NELSON, 529 Dalhousie Crescent, Saskatoon, SK S7H 3S5

Figure 1. The disputed birdhouse and its contents, fall 1999 Garth Nelson

In 1997, we were seeking a tenant for since. We did see a House Wren go in our birdhouse. We were hoping to and inspect it early last week. attract a House Wren, but ended up with a House Sparrow. And so, the following June 5,1998 : Earlier this week we saw year, I altered the “doorway” of the House Sparrows starting a nest on top birdhouse, so that only a wren would be of the birdhouse, wedged between the able to get inside. Needless to say, slanted roof of the birdhouse and the although the wrens were happy with this eaves of the garage. I took it down from renovation, the sparrows were furious. the garage and relocated it in the crab What followed was nothing less than a apple tree. Today, House Wrens were in pitched battle. and out of it with nesting material. They were singing in our yard this evening. May 24,1998 : House Sparrows are still trying to get into our birdhouse. About June 6, 1998 : Some interesting bird a week ago I put up the birdhouse under dynamics today! After breakfast, we the eaves of the garage. I had altered it noticed the male House Sparrow so that the hole is 1 inch in diameter frantically trying to get into the birdhouse instead of VA inches, hoping to keep while the House Wren fretted nearby, out the House Sparrows and attract a watching him intently. The House wren. Two minutes after I put it up, there Sparrow was trying desperately to get was a House Sparrow trying to get in, in, but couldn’t. After lunch, we noticed and the sparrows have been at it ever the contest continuing, but this time the

78 Blue Jay wren dive-bombed the sparrow, who 16th. It went into the birdhouse (al wasn’t quite as frantic as at breakfast¬ approximately 4 PM), stayed there for time. This went on until a robin about 2 minutes, then came out and intervened. I saw the robin chasing the disappeared. House Sparrow and Lillian thought she saw it chasing the wren. The robin July 14, 1998 : Lillian heard and saw perched near the birdhouse for a while, the House Wren again this morning. It and the others kept their distance. After went into the birdhouse again. supper - sparrow still trying to get into the birdhouse with wren watching End of season: Took the birdhouse down intently. in September. Didn’t find much inside: just a few twigs. June 7, 1998 : At breakfast, a pair of House Sparrows were at the birdhouse June 13, 1999 : House Wrens visited trying to get in. Most of the time it was our birdhouse again. House Sparrows the female — the first time we’ve seen have checked it out and tried to get in a the female making the attempt. She got number of times, but not as persistently her head in a little further but had no or as frantically as last year. more success than the male. At one point they were both trying to get in at June 14, 1999 : The House Wren has the same time: a bit of a domestic been busy all day, taking material into squabble. We also saw them mating a the birdhouse. It was interesting to see couple of times. Through all this, there it manoeuver around to get long pieces was no sign of the wren, although I heard into the hole. At one point, around noon, it singing some distance away. The the House Sparrow and the wren were second half of the day saw very little on either side of the birdhouse nattering action at the birdhouse — sparrows were at each other. The House Sparrow observed a couple of times without trying fluttered its wings. The wren’s whole to get in and there was no sign of the body was involved - wings flapping, tail wren. Any time we looked from supper flicking, body jerking from side to side time on, there were no birds around. on the branch. We could see its beak going. It was obviously saying dark June 8, 1998 : For the most part, no things to the sparrow. The sparrow action around the birdhouse. After would light on the birdhouse supper, the female House Sparrow occasionally. Earlier in the day, we checked it out and tried to enter, while noticed the sparrow chasing the wren. the male watched, but they soon both However, the sparrow didn’t stick with flew off. it—not as aggressive as last year.

June 16, 1998 : The House Wren has June 15, 1999 : The wren was busy all returned to the birdhouse. Lillian saw it day again today, taking nest material to go into the house this morning and heard the birdhouse. The House Sparrows it singing. Around 1:30 PM, I saw it go weren’t around. into the house then drop to the ground looking for nesting material. It picked up June 16, 1999 : The wren worked all several largish twigs, discarding each, day at nest-building. The House then flew into the next yard. Sparrow was back again, challenging the wren. We watched the argument July 12,1998 : We heard, then saw, the off and on most of the day. I watched House Wren for the first time since June the sparrow repeatedly try to get into the

59(2). June 2001 79 house. Then it would perch in various House-Sparrow drama goes on - same spots nearby while the wren, as it did pattern. At one point, I saw the House yesterday, reacted with its whole body. Sparrow with its head in the hole, I watched the sparrow sit for a long time straining to get in further. It then withdrew - it looked very relaxed and non-plussed with a bit of the wren’s nesting material by the wren’s antics. At another time - (dryer lint) in its beak. but only the once - I saw it fluttering its wings in a crouched position. The June 19,1999 : They’re still at it! Wren sparrow would take breaks and go away, still nest-building. House Sparrow and when it did, the wren returned continuing to harass it. The sparrow has enthusiastically to nest-building. At one taken to perching right beneath the point, the wren went inside and the birdhouse where the wren can’t dive- sparrow came to the hole right bomb it. (The house is partially afterward. I watched the sparrow, for supported in the crook of two branches.) about five minutes, try to get in. It got During the evening, the wren spent a its head inside, repeatedly trying hard lot of time just perched near the to enter. I would love to know what the birdhouse, singing. wren was doing: cringing in a corner ? (not likely); pecking at the sparrow? June 20, 1999 : The House Sparrow (possibly); going about its business came to the birdhouse and looked in arranging the nest material? Who while the wren was in it. Previously, I knows? The sparrow would let go saw the wren taking in a bit of dryer lint. momentarily, then continue as before. Same patterns as previous days Eventually it went away. As I kept continued throughout the day. We sat watching, I saw the wren’s head appear. outside most of the day. The Red-eyed It stuck its head outside, looked around, Vireo was singing loudly to our left and then flew away to return shortly after with the House Wren was singing loudly on another twig. the right in our crab apple. Yellow Warbler and Chipping Sparrow could be June 17, 1999 : The contest goes on! heard occasionally, as well as a robin. A Wren vs. House Sparrow. The pattern crow perched atop a tall poplar back of was very much the same as yesterday. our place, then came for a drink at our House Sparrow comes and perches bath. Several Cedar Waxwings came near the birdhouse and just sits while and fed on insects/worms in the birch wren cusses at it and emphasizes every next door; Brewer’s Blackbirds and Rock syllable with body movement. Doves flew over. Ten species altogether. Periodically, the wren dive-bombs the Just before supper, the wren and House Sparrow. At one point, as the wren was Sparrow were being more aggressive trying to get into the house with a beak than I’ve seen them. The wren kept diving full of twigs, the Sparrow zoomed down at the sparrow - very agitated, moving and hit it, knocking it away from the quickly from branch to branch around the entrance. Whenever the Sparrow flew sparrow. Every now and then the away, the wren wasted no time resuming sparrow would fly at the wren. its nest-building activity. This evening we saw it moving along the edge of the June 25, 1999 : The wren has been garage roof, feeding on insects between working on its nest in the birdhouse for the edge of the shingles and the wood a week and a half with the House beneath. Sparrow waging a continued campaign of harassment. The wren has showed June 18, 1999 : The House Wren- a very feisty nature - still dive-bombing

80 Blue Jay the sparrow. In between times, the wren July 18, 1999 : House Wren: singing builds and sings energetically- singing most of the day, in and out of birdhouse. in the rain today. House Sparrows: 2 parents, 1 young.

This pattern continued for the next July 19,1999: Didn’t see or hear the wren several days. Then the observers were in our yard until evening, when it paid one away on a trip from 29 June to 3 July visit to the birdhouse. It made a sound we hadn’t heard before: a kind of short July 4, 1999 : Wren still at birdhouse, chipping sound or rattle: “scolding singing all day. House Sparrow: saw it chatter,” “scolding grating chatter.” once, trying to get into the house. Rest of July : Only heard the wren once July 5, 1999 : Didn’t see the House or twice. Sparrow today, but wren very much around - singing - back and forth End of season: opened birdhouse. from nest. It’s been three weeks today Although a full nest had been built since it started building its nest. It (Figure 1) there were no eggs inside. doesn’t seem to be taking nest The nest wasn’t used. material in now. May 21, 2000 : House Wren appeared July 8, 1999 : The wren continues to in the yard. We haven’t yet put up the sing lustily, and to go in and out of the birdhouse. birdhouse. We haven’t seen the House Sparrow around the birdhouse since June 3, 2000 : Put up the birdhouse. July 4. We still just see the one wren - have never seen two. We wonder if a June 5, 2000 : Around 5 p.m., saw the female is inside on the nest - but House Wren. It was on top of the haven’t noticed the wren taking in food. birdhouse, then a little later it went inside It seems to have stopped taking nest for a few minutes, looked out from it a materials in. couple of times, then flew away. The House Sparrows have left the birdhouse For the next two weeks, a wren was completely alone. seen or heard only occasionally. June 6, 2000 : The House Wren July 16, 1999 : Sitting outside in appeared and sat next to the birdhouse. afternoon, we heard the wren in our When the wren was not around, a House yard, then saw it enter the birdhouse. Sparrow tried to get into the birdhouse, It came out with a feather or bit of fluff but couldn’t. in its beak. It was around while we were there - first time in several days that June 9, 2000 : Saw the House Wren we have seen it near the birdhouse near the birdhouse, but not in it. tree. June 11 & 12, 2000 : The House Wren July 17, 1999 : The wren was busy at has been in the yard and I have heard it breakfast time, singing and entering the singing. But it hasn’t been going into birdhouse. The House Sparrows are the birdhouse. leaving it completely alone these days - haven’t seen a sparrow trying to get June 13,2000 : The House Wren is back in the birdhouse or challenging the wren and is now going into the birdhouse. I since July 4. have seen it flying back and forth, with

59(2). June 2001 81 Figure 2. Birdhouse and the wren nest, fall 2000 Garth Nelson twigs. It was quite busy, bringing nesting July 18,2000 : Both House Wrens have material to the house. House Sparrow been busy. I think they may be engaged was there, but didn’t bother it. in feeding their young.

June 15 & 16, 2000 : Saw the House July 23, 2000 : We definitely saw Wren on both days, busy carrying twigs several young House Wrens in the and material into the house. birdhouse and could hear them singing. June 17, 2000 : Around 9:00 AM, saw both House Wrens, male and female, July 24,2000 :1 saw four House Wrens, busy around the birdhouse. This is the including 2 young, in the back yard this first time we’ve ever seen both wrens afternoon. So I assume the young there at the same time. wrens have left the birdhouse.

June 18-20, 2000 : House Wren busy August 30, 2000 : 2 House Wrens. working at the nest in the birdhouse. At the end of the season, the house was again full of nest (Figure 2), and this June 21,2000 : House Sparrow tried to time had clearly been used to raise get into the birdhouse. But the House young. Wren fought it off. Acknowlegments July 13,2000: Again, both House Wrens I would like to thank my son Greg for were in the yard, busy working at the nest. his help in preparing this article.

82 Blue Jay