What’s with San Jose bird’s obsessive twig collecting?

DEAR JOAN: My husband and I have seen a very little bird – I think smaller than a sparrow –  coming and going from this bird house. It keeps bringing more leaves and twigs, but it doesn’t look like a nest, nor does it appear to stay in there.

Any idea what kind of bird and why it’s collecting all that stuff?

— Gloria N., San Jose

DEAR GLORIA: It might not look like a nest now, but it will.

Some birds can take up to two weeks to collect enough materials to satisfy their nesting urge. You’d be surprised by how much material it can take, and as they don’t shop at home supply stores, they have to find and gather all the supplies they need from around the neighborhood.

By your description, I think the bird is likely a Northern house wren, which are about the same size as a sparrow. They are known for using twigs and leaves in the construction of a nest. In the center of all those pointy twigs will be a cup shape of soft and downy materials that will cradle the eggs and the new babies. Those sturdy twigs can also block other birds and predators from getting to the eggs and hatchlings.

The Northern house wren is considered a rather plain and drab-looking brown bird with a thin bill. It has darker barring on the tail and wings, and light tan throat.

DEAR JOAN: I woke to a swarm of bees flying around and into a corner of an eave on my porch. They seem to be multiplying.

I don’t want to kill or spray them, but am a little nervous going in and out.

I live in a townhouse. This is the first time I have been visited by these buzzy guys. The only green on the porch are two geraniums and several succulents. There is no action on or around the plants, just in a tight corner up in the eaves.

— Gail Fitzgerald, Clayton

DEAR GAIL: I’m guessing that by now your bee problem has resolved itself, as it’s likely the bees were part of a new colony of honeybees, waiting for the realtor to find them a new home.

Every year — sometimes more than just once — established bee colonies get too crowded. A new queen will be born and she, or the old queen, will depart to start a new colony. The bees going on this adventure are called a swarm, and they will collect in one spot to wait for news of where the new hive will be setting up.

Because they don’t yet have a hive to protect, they are very docile and rarely, if ever, cause a problem.

Thank you for not taking action against them. If they are still hanging around, or if you should be visited again, call a beekeeper to come collect them. Area beekeepers are always glad to add to their own hives, or share them with other backyard beekeepers. Most ask for a donation of around $50.

You can find a list of organizations that do swarm removal at the Pollinator Partnership website, www.pollinator.org.

The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.