Towhee couple building a nursery on our back porch

[Thirtieschild]

Sunday husband said a towhee couple spent hours studying our porch, very much like a couple on House Hunters deciding which house to buy. They chose the inside of a large decorative metal wall lizard for their nest, have even used dried flowers to close the open places on the lizard - very pretty. The porch is covered, which means they should be safe from predators, wind and, assuming we get any, rain. We've spent a delightful week watching them fly in with twigs and dried grass. Hope they trust us - and our dogs - enough to stay. Anyone have a similar experience and, if so, were you able to co-exist?

[zanne]

1. I just Googled "towhee"...

What a pretty bird! I love it when a bird couple finds our yard suitable for a nest. We don't have a covered porch, but Mockingbirds love to nest in our big Blue Spruce tree. They're very protective and it's kind of funny watching them swoop down on the neighborhood cats (and sometimes people) who get too close! I've never succeeded in watching the first flight; I hope you're fortunate enough to see it. Enjoy your new neighbors!

[stuntcat]

2. it sounds like they picked just the right place :D

I have 7 birdhouses but they're all out on the edges of our yard so we haven't had any close-up before. We live in a tight culdesac so I don't blame them for not nesting close to the houses.. but I have seen birds make nests in some crowded loud places before.