Location, Location

  For weeks we have been laughing at  observing a male common house sparrow who has taken residence in our recycled- house-parts birdhouse.  This year we placed it on the edge of the brick patio in the backyard. He has been sitting on it, chirping forlornly, occasionally puffing his feathers and defending it fiercely whenever another male bird came near.  I wondered what he was doing, as there did not appear to be a female building a nest or co-habitating in any way.   So I googled...

 "The mating habits or courtship of the House Sparrow can begin as early as January and continue through July. The males claim their nest sites and defend its immediate territory. There is no defined area outside the nest that the bird defends.
The male chirps by the nest site trying to attract a female. When a female comes by the male chirps louder and more quickly. Sometimes the male will follow the female a short distance and hop or wing quiver around her if she passes by him. Other males may join in trying to attract the same female. Mating occurs throughout the breeding cycle, (March through early August) near the nest site, and may occur several times during the day. Once the birds pair, nesting begins.  These birds are monogamous, usually for life.
Although lost mates are quickly replaced during the breeding season. " 
 (what else is new)

So there you have it.  I figured this guy has been trying real hard for a while now.. perhaps it was the location of his house that was making it impossible to attract a girlfriend. All the males defending the bluebird houses had mates already.. those were located away from our patio.   My son and I moved the house and wouldn't ya know...  within 24 hours....

The girlfriend moved in.

Sometimes, location is everything.