Rarely, have I received letters from readers that express joy for squirrels, gray or red. Thus, I must confess my surprise when I read the following April 27 letter from a Manchester reader that read: “We were thrilled to find squirrels nesting in the squirrel house my husband built and put out two years ago.

“Two months ago we noticed adult squirrels carrying nesting material into the house. Yesterday we noticed two babies running up and down the tree and then spotted them peering out of their house.

“Last summer we spotted a bunch of baby red squirrels running in and out of the ‘multi-family' bird house at the back of our yard. I was lucky enough to get the picture of four of them poking their cute little faces out of the house at the same time. We're not certain if they actually nested in that house. Over the years, we've usually only seen an occasional red squirrel in our backyard. We were hoping to have them back this spring, but as yet haven't seen any. I've enjoyed your column for years.”

Of the computer photos that were enclosed, one showed the four young red squirrels poking their tiny heads out of a multi-family bird house. Another depicted two immature gray squirrels crowded together, their heads peeking out of the entrance hole of the squirrel house.

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In our column of May 5, we quoted from a Hampton gentleman's letter that described a most unusual occurrence.

As in old-time radio “soap operas,” I shall briefly recount. In March, 2011, our reader attempted to assist a pair of purple finches to build a nest above his 1-3/4“ side—step door frame. The space being narrow, after 4-5 windy days of trying, the birds had no success. Our reader nailed up an 8“ piece of plywood, but it was too late and the birds left. The middle of March this year a pair of “purple” finches arrived, apparently the same pair. A nest was begun, but again, the wind blew the nest material away. Cutting the end of some branches off his cedar hedge, our reader stapled them on the plywood platform. In two weeks, a big nest was built. I suggested our reader's “purple” finches were “house“ finches as frequently, they nest under the protection of porch roofs.

May 5, our Hampton reader wrote: “You were right, the birds were house finches. The birds finished the nest and she laid an egg about every day, six in all. I had a large mirror that I taped to a 90 degree end of a stick, so I could reach up every day. The nest at most was about 10 to 12 feet from where we sit in our living room. The male, once in a while, would come in and feed her. I was surprised that when he did, she would rise up and flutter her wings the same way a baby bird would do when they are being fed.

“Now for the sad part. After about a week sitting on the eggs, we got up one morning and didn't see her on the nest. An hour later —— still no bird. We figured something was wrong —— no bird all day. I went out with the mirror to look in the nest, only 2 eggs not broken — no shells and the nest was in perfect condition?? There are no blue jays around and no crows. This must have happened at night. I have removed what they built on, so it cannot happen again. I have no idea what could have happened.”

Historically speaking, house finches are relative newcomers in the northeastern states. For years they were common in southern California with an extended range north to Washington and eastward to Wyoming, Colorado and West Texas. In 1940 cage-bird dealers in Southern California shipped numbers of these illegally caught “Hollywood finches” to New York dealers for sale as cage birds. To avoid prosecution, the dealers quickly released those birds. They dispersed into Long Island and began increasing their range into New England and along the eastern seaboard. In 1963, a male had reached North Carolina.

House finches select various places to build their nests. Ordinarily they prefer a raised ledge or cavity but will nest on tree branches or in shrubs. They also have been known to use abandoned nests of other birds. They nest in flower pots on porch railings and, more frequently, in hanging flower baskets. On several occasions within past years our readers have sent letters and photos of this happening. The disease (Avian Conjunctivitis) was first known to affect house finches in 1993-94. Its spread was rapid through eastern house finches. By November 1994, the epidemic had widened, and included southern New Hampshire. Recently it has become uncommon. If one sees a puffed~up finch that dies, as a precaution, bird feeders should be cleaned in a solution of nine parts of tepid water and one part bleach, soaked for 2-3 minutes, rinsed well, and thoroughly dried.

Stacey Cole's address is 529 W. Swanzey Road, Swanzey 03446.