Mine are just like your first picture today. Still peeking out when i came in, How long do they do that before they go? I thought they'd be gone today, but there is still at least one in there, I had 5 (I think)I wish I had seen at least one go, but I didn't, and probablyby the time I get home tomorrow nite from work, they'll be gone. Do I take the nest out, same as Bluebirds?

Nina, personally I do NOT think you are crazy, and know that Janie IS, but I have never witnessed this behavior in a fledgling either. Sounds to me like she is extremely fond of those mealies and doesn't plan to share! Hope all is well--by the way, I put grape jelly in my new oriole feeder and, though I haven't actually seen them come TO the feeder, I have spotted a couple in the trees at the edge of our property. Hopefully I can get them to the deck where I can actually get a good look! Kathy P.S. The 2009 NABS convention is being held in Gettysburg, PA (don't recall the exact date) which is only about an hour or so from here. Keep that in mind, okay?

Hi Donna and Congrats on both your 1st-nesters staying and your 2nd nest underway! That's a real sweet photo. :) Our 3rd-nesters should fledge this week-end and we do have fledglings from both previous nests helping to feed them in the box. It's a real treat! If anyone would like to see this, we have posted a video of the whole family feeding the nestlings (see link below) Here is a link that might be useful: Family Feeding Nestlings - Video

My phoebes had skipped a year of nesting in their usual place (above the porch light fixture near my office door). My mirror set-up had scared them away. I should have realized that birds do not "like" mirrors -- but I didn't think about it at the time. I did see a bird pecking all day at the mirror, looking behind it, then pecking angrily at it when seeing the "intruder" again. That bird came back the next day to peck at the mirror again. I felt sorry for him wasting his time. But, I didn't think about the phoebes reaction being the same. So, they never nested there last year. I removed the mirror, but they still did not return to nest there this spring. Instead, they nested on another side of the house -- under our raised deck (same as last year). But, after the 1st brood was fledged -- THEY MOVED BACK TO THEIR OLD NESTING SPOT! So, the phoebes apparently got fed up with the disturbances created by our toy poodle (who is let out onto our raised deck several times a day.) The poodle would be walking directly over their nest, and possibly pissing over their nest. The nest building started May 25, 2021 and completed on the 30th or 31st. The mother was sitting on the nest on May 31, and there were 2 eggs in the nest. So, the first egg was likely delivered on May 30. By June 3, there were 5 eggs. All the eggs hatched on June 17 -- so, exactly 2 weeks after the last egg was laid. Interesting that all eggs hatched on the same day, even though each egg was laid a day apart. When I peeked, all the shells were gone. So, even tho I didn't see it, I assume that the parents removed all the egg shells. I also see the parents flying away with baby-bird poop. The poop looks like worms, and the parents carry it away from the nest. They either drop it or eat it (it is undigested food). Today is June 23, and the parents are often very busy bringing food. The bay birds are still too small to see without using a mirror over the nest. Here is a link to a very interesting article from 1937, detailing the observations of nesting habits of phoebes as studied over a 3-yr period. A few interesting details: Female does all the nest building. Incubation starts at varying times - sometimes after 3rd egg, sometimes after 4th, sometimes after 5th. The male apparently does none of the incubation. After fledging, the young birds remain close to the nest, getting farther way as the days pass. Both parents still feed the young after they fledge -- feeding them for periods of up to 18 days. Reliance on the parents gradually decreases. The parents may eventually show harsh treatment of the young to get them to go out on their own. Interesting. https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/auk/v059n03/p0410-p0417.pdf