Wren- Yes!! That's sounds great. I'm planning something similiar myself. In the meantime, I expanded our front stoop by using those concrete one foot square pavers. The red and grey ones. We just have the stoop just next to the driveway, no walkway, and the stoop wasn't big enough to navigate comfortably when guests come in. I dug down about 5-6 inches, hauled away that dirt, and tamped in some sand. Oh, almost forgot, my husband cut some edging for it from pressure treated lumber I scrounged from someone's trash. (Two rows of two by fours, mitred corners,screwed together) I decided on the edging to help keep things neater. I think we put the edging in first, then the sand. Be sure to pack the sand down firmly. My husband took a two X four (about three foot long, comfortable for me to work with,) and screwed a one foot square piece of plywood to the bottom for my 'tamping tool.' Then I set the pavers in place. Oh, I think I layed the pavers out before hand, so I knew how big to make it. But we were only doing a small area. Then I swept sand into the crevices. It's been about five years, and not a problem. No frost heave, nothing. It shovels easily in the winter too. Mine is on the north side of my 1959 ranch house. Even dear husband, who throughout the whole project said it wasn't going to work, that it would frost heave, that it would look bad, has since admitted it worked well. Those red and gray pavers aren't the most beautiful, but the price was right, they have 'aged' a bit, being on the north side. They blend in nicely with the existing stoop and driveway. The only thing is ants always tunnel under the pavers, so I sweep sand off during the summer. After five years, the whole thing has sunk down about an inch-inch and a half, so it's no longer level with the driveway. Amazingly though, it sunk completely evenly. This summer, I'll pick up the pavers, add some more sand; it should be good to go for a few more years. I'm thinking if I use some gravel, maybe the ants wouldn't be able to 'excavate.' I don't think I'd use pea gravel, as it might shift, being round. But see if you can find some sharp gravel. (I'm not sure what it's called, but a gravel yard would help. Probably just sharp gravel.) Good luck with your project. Someday, after we remodel the entryway to the house, I'm going to do that picket fence, with the patio behind the fence :-) cantstop

The general movement north follows the sun increase, but the weather will always have an effect. This year's historic March heat wave appears to be greatly aiding the hummers' return. The northward sprint should take a break soon, though, as the weather pattern changes.

I've been following this thread and am so glad the Phoebe got to nest in a safe place. I had one which built on top of a downspout elbow, just under the deck; she had a couple of broods per year until two seasons ago, when she disappeared before eggs were laid. For the past couple of days I've seen a Phoebe on the deck railing, calling "fee-bee" over and over. Perhaps a new male looking for a mate? I had the deck re-done so the old, many-times-reused nest is gone. But I'm hoping to build a platform with a small ledge around the edge and mount it just under the deck. I'd love to know what size (dimensions) you decided to make yours; don't want to make mine too small. On another note: after the original Phoebe didn't return to the nest on the downspout, some enterprising Carolina Wrens came along and "renovated" the existing nest. They had four babies, all of which I found all on the cement walkway under the deck a couple of days after they hatched. House Wrens had thrown them out. Two were dead. I put the nest in a small can, built up the nesting materials in the front to prevent the remaining babies from falling out again -- also laid foam pads down below, just in case. Next day, the surviving two were on the ground again. Thankfully they lived, and with the help of a rehabber, I raised them successfully. Oh, those House Wrens!!! P.S. - I just looked up Eastern Phoebe in my Stokes bird book. It says that at least 25% of Phoebe nests are parasitized by cowbirds. So watch that nest carefully for an intruder egg.

Don't know if you have a bear problem. I have property bordered by a large state park that I visit every other weekend. Can't have feeders up when I'm gone, so habitat restoration is an issue. Am sticking to planting trees and necter plants with high wildlife value. There are no starlings, house sparrows or house wrens so cavity nesters are plentiful. Check with your state DNR. State your objective (wildlife preservation) and you will get the local info you need as well as what to plant. You may even have a program in your state to allow you to put your property in a stewardship program in order to get a tax break. The big thing is selective thinning of forest to encourage understory plants. Linda