Who's Living in My Wreath?

 I said that I never buy an expensive wreath for the front of the house. I tend to make my own and make it simply, because invariably the house finches make their nest in my wreaths. The wreath is on the front porch...a sheltered, quiet place. A quiet place... unless we want to sit there and then the little birds fly to and from as we go in and out the door. We have always been able to coexist with the birds.

I hadn't checked the front porch for a couple of days, because of the rainy weather and high winds. I was in for a surprise when I looked out and saw this nest with the dried grasses blowing in the breeze. It's quite a dramatic nest...I recognize the grasses from my next door neighbor's yard. I thought that it was a rather large nest for a house finch. I saw the finches pulling the grassy strings out of my cocoa mulch liner just a few feet away from the wreath. They kept going back and forth with this material in their mouths. They were not going to the nest, however.I'm thinking that they may be wanting to build a nest in this hanging basket, yet to be planted.....and if they do...well, I don't know what I will do when it's time to plant it.

The sidewalk has been littered with little pieces of dried leaves and mulch. No matter how often I sweep it...it can be  messy again in a short time. We got ready for Mass on Easter Sunday and as we were driving out the drive, a robin flew into the nest. So, that's who's living in my wreath. I looked this morning and it's a very sturdy nest. She is sitting in it bobbing up and down and twisting her body around and around to make just the right curved place for her eggs. I peaked, when she left, and didn't see any eggs. This is the first time a robin has nested there. I hope she is patient with us.. and lets us sit there once in a while :)
Balisha