[EBB Sightings] Western Bluebirds nesting in Berkeley

Kay Loughman alerted me to the return of the Western Bluebirds to San Pablo Park in Berkeley. Sure enough, they're back, feeding young in the same Sycamore, the same woodpecker hole.

Today I took some neighborhood kids to the park (had to lower my spotting scope maximally in one case) and we had fine views of both parents.

The nest is in a Sycamore along Russell St.

Does anyone on this listserv know of urban/suburban nesting Bluebirds elsewhere in the East Bay? This seems to be happening in southern California; in Irvine, Long Beach. Remarkable since House Sparrows have excluded Bluebirds from city life for almost a century. 

I've been looking at CBC data and really get the impression that House Sparrows are declining (will send spread sheets upon request). 

And in the UK:
http://www.katevincent.org/parentpage1.htm

http://www.bto.org/appeals/house_sparrow.htm

    Rusty Scalf