While hiking with friends in the Malibu area, one of the group pointed out a nesting sparrow to me. It was located in an abandoned truck’s frame and was very hard to spot. This sparrow built its nest in a very narrow part of the frame, right above the windshield. The nest was made chiefly from dried plant material but also included feathers, string, paper, plastic, and other materials. House Sparrows use softer materials to line the nest for comfort and insulation.
The Malibu area is home to many interesting places including Paramount Ranch which was originally purchased by Paramount Pictures in 1927 for outdoor filming2. The ranch has been used as a filming location for many movies and TV shows including M.A.S.H2. The ranch was also home to a racetrack that was created during the sportscar racing boom of the 1950s around a Western movie set. The circuit was short-lived and served for less than two years before tragedy forced its closure.
If you’re interested in learning more about House Sparrow’s nesting habits and behaviors, you can check out this source. If you want to learn more about Paramount Ranch’s history and its role in Hollywood, you can check out this source.