Not too many birds are coming to the backyard right now, and there are actually more times now when I look outside and see no birds than when I see birds.  During the spring and early summer, we almost always had some type of bird in the backyard.

Here are some updates as to what is happening in the yard:

A house wren has started to build a nest in one of our Gilbertson nesting boxes, presumedly for a prospective second brood of the year, though upon reading about house wrens, I have learned they are aggressive and build many nests and then only chose one in which to lay their eggs, but they will defend all nests and prospective cavities from other birds, so I hope these house wrens don't try to keep the tree swallows away next spring.

We have added a bird bath to the backyard, and we have seen a number of birds use it for both bathing purposes and for drinking, though even now with that, it is not drawing more birds to the backyard.

Yesterday, a female rose-breasted grosbeak visited the backyard briefly.  It sat on the bird feeding station and looked around, though it didn't try to eat anything that I have out for the birds.  At least I know they are in the area, and this was the first one to come check out our yard that I know about, and I am hopeful that they will keep coming back.

That about sums up the birding situation in the backyard over the past couple of weeks.