Eastern Phoebe's Return

An Eastern Phoebe

The nest under the eaves, soon filled with chicks we hope.

Last year we had a pair of Eastern Phoebe's raise a brood in a nest that is just under the eaves of our roof as you leave our front door. Phoebes are migratory birds, so we were anxious to see if our couple would be back this year. And good news, they've arrived and have started fixing up their nest! We're looking forward to watching them raise another family this year. Phoebes don't come to feeders, but since ours have set up house at our house, so to speak, we get to see a lot of them. They perch in the pine trees just off our deck, swooping down on insects that have the misfortune of passing too close. We're seeing a lot of our migratory bird friends now. The red-winged blackbirds, grackles and sparrows are all starting to show up in force. A Canadian goose was grazing on the lawn the other day and a pair of mallards have been on the pond or the river for the last three days. The ducks and the geese will move on, but many of the others are back for the Summer.