No, I’m not talking about Those Two, silly. That ship has long sailed! I’m talking about the pair of Eastern Phoebes that have returned to raise a new family right underneath our deck.
We’re assuming it’s the same pair, since Phoebes are known to return to their nesting sites. You would have thought one season of sitting up there listening to the sounds of laughter and the cocktail shaker on the patio below would have been enough to persuade them to find a different neighborhood, but maybe they’re party birds.
We sure enjoyed watching the whole sequence of events last year, starting with the building of the nest in the spring, and Mama G even managed to capture the young birds’ first flight on video. The Phoebes sure seemed to be great parents, working tirelessly in tandem to feed all those hungry mouths. They looked completely stressed out at times, but at least they didn’t have to worry about the kids hanging out in the nest until they’re 26!
We’re hoping this year’s adventure in raising a family is as successful as last year’s. I’ll keep you posted.
Oxbow's World 
Dear Mr. Oxbow, This is one of your best and most exciting blog posts. I love the title…it reminds me of Ricky singing a song by that title to Lucy when she was pregnant! Please get Mama C to create lots of photos of the progress of preparing for the little ones. I bet your Mamas are thrilled that the happy couple chose to return to your nesting site. Could you possibly suggest to Mama C that she attach a “GO PRO” camera (at a respectful distance) to record the big event? This much be so intriguing for both you and your mamas. Congratulations…how long is the gestation?
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Thanks, Babs. Mama G thought about putting a GoPro up there, but decided against it for several reasons. The incubation period is about 16 days. We’re not sure any eggs have actually been laid, since both birds seem to be spending a lot of time out of the nest. But we’re still thrilled to watch the action! Fortunately for them, I’m watching it from behind glass.
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