I was cleaning the kitchen a few weeks ago, and birdsong kept catching my attention. I finally came around the corner to see if I could tell what the deal was. I saw a flutter of wings. I stood in the living room for only a few more minutes and learned exactly what was happening:
One bird perched on the roofline, singing loudly and as aggressively as a tiny and beautiful bird with a beautiful song can do. The other bird flying back and forth, back and forth, dropping debris onto a beam in our porch. Bad balancing and a little bit of wind that day kept dropping her attempts onto the porch below.
I was delighted, but returned to the chores in the kitchen. I was also concerned. It was the first of July which seemed late in the season. These two were seriously tardy and they needed every advantage. I was not going to jeopardize their chances by popping out onto the porch every day to watch. I viewed through the window in the front room, and even that I tried not to do very often.
I researched them online, and finches supposedly build nests in March and April. They were indeed late.
Over the next three days, I watched her try and try and try again. Mr. Finch kept watch only. Maybe he was supervising? Maybe he was spotting good nest material and trying to get her attention.
But every couple of hours, it all fell to the ground. She tried a few times to build a couple feet away on the same beam, but that nest didn’t work either.
On the fourth morning I checked on her, and this time a substantial base had taken shape. This was perfect. Pedro and I were leaving for a long Fourth of July weekend. No one should be anywhere near the front door to give them a chance to ah, er, make the home their own, as it were.
Four days later we came back and I checked the nest on the way back into the house.
In the video clip, you can see the remains of the second nest site she started working on, just to the left of the one she’s in.
For a couple of weeks, I could spot her up there. I no longer heard Mr. Finch, and wondered what he was up to. I would see what seemed like a flash of red in the ornamental maple by the office window, but I was never sure till I captured him one day.
Since she never left the nest, I assumed he was feeding her, but I wasn’t able to verify this in research.
Yesterday I thought it was time to check the nest again. I haven’t bothered them every day; I’m trying to be a good neighbor. And guess what?!
I looked up the timeline and we apparently get to share our home with this family for two more weeks, then they will all move on. It was fast and sweet.
Conscious Engagement 
That is brilliant Crystal. I bet you wanted to help nest build.
I saw four 😁
Oh my gosh, how do you know me so well?! I DID! I went to the back yard and found tiny things I thought would work, and dropped them nearby. But she didn’t touch any of them. I’m such a goofball.
And you are right. Once I calmed down I was able to find all four yellow beaks.
I have done the same.
Peeling some Stringybark bark from firewood I put it on a stump for birds to take the wonderful stringy fibres from. Not one piece was taken over 12 months! 🙄
This is a fantastic photo essay… and I love the mohawk!
Thank you! That little one looks like a rock and roll headbanger for sure!
So wonderful!! Another happy family in your happy home.
Hi Manja!! It’s so good to hear from you here. Hugs ❤ Yes, I am so pleased that they chose our home to build on.
A wonderful photo story
I appreciate your comment, Derrick. I had fun collecting photos, a couple at a time. 🙂
I’m so happy to see your new neighbors. This is the only way I’d ever see such a thing. I’m also delighted they finally had success at the nest building. I would be wanting to help as well. It would be next to impossible to keep from spying on them constantly. Great shots!
I’m glad you got to see this Finch story, Marlene! And yes, it was very hard for me to stay away. I was obsessed with them for a couple weeks. I would say something like, “The family still looks healthy and mom and dad are still caring for them.” Pedro would ask, “What family?” and I couldn’t believe that he wasn’t thinking about them constantly like I was, ha ha!
I love house finches. I suspect they get the same bad wrap that house sparrows get but that coloring gets them a pass. It’s only when the nest-building comes inside that I take issue. Great shots!
Ha ha!! That red gives them a pass. So true! Any colour makes me love a bird a bit more. We are so silly. I was worried for a little while that the babies would be noisy. I had a nest of Violet Green Swallows inside the attic ventilation outside my bedroom in the Rainier house. Oh my gosh!! Those little babies about made me insane. Their darling little chirping, which was lovely for the first two days, became maddening after two weeks. So loud and incessant. The House Finches barely made a peep, and were gone very quickly. So I’d prefer a finch to a swallow I guess. Needless to say, I repaired the hole in the gap that summer to prevent a repeat experience.
Nice little photo story, thanks!
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Maybe you’ll see someone in the family at your house one of these days, since we’re neighbors. ❤
We have a gang of them here, house finches, gold finches, maybe a dozen different bird species in all. It’s amazing!!
That is wonderful! My mind lit up just thinking about it. We have gold finches in our sunflowers here, and I keep meaning to get outside and photograph them.