Two days ago, I saw the male with the female. The male was on the hummingbird's nectar stand. Apparently, the female sent the male packing. This morning, the male joined the female on the deck railing. Apparently, the female again sent him packing. This is consistent with the behavior mentioned by Cornell.

This morning, the female was beating a bug into submission on the railing. I looked for the chicks yesterday but did not see them--or at least moving. I have to work within 20 feet of the nest today and hope they can tolerate me.

I do miss the singing of the carolina wrens. However, the phoebes are quite entertaining.

How cool they are nesting close by! I don't understand why the female sends the male packing. After she has babies? Does she have to do all the feeding herself then?

The image of a bird "beating a bug into submission" is entertaining!

That's cool Bob!
I also have Eastern Phoebe, what I fine these birds stick around for a long time in your yard and never wander too far.

I've been watching them together and they really do seem to get along. It seems that one feeds the chicks while the other sits on the sheperd's hook for the hummingbirds' feeder. However, I cannot tell one from the other although I think one is a little bigger than the other.

They sure can catch bugs. One perches on the shepherd's hook, looks around, spots its bug, and makes a short chase for it. Not fluid like a swallow but the phoebe can briefly hover, dive, dart, fly with one wing pointed to the ground, etc. The other has found a choice spot near the nest under the deck in some leaves. I hadn't cleared the leaves out yet from last Fall so there must be an assortment of bugs in the leaves.

I saw the chicks in the nest today from about 17 feet away. I hope the parents bring them to the railing so I can see them after they have fledged. I'll have to charge the battery to my camera and take an image when they are a bit bigger.

A male hummingbird was ready to take a sip of sugar water but then saw the phoebe sitting at the top of the hook. He backed away and checked out some weigela flowers.

In the front of the yard, there is the constant single-note peep, peep, peep of mockingbird chicks.

Phoebes fledged. Now the ruby-throat gets his feeder back--after I clean it off and freshen it.

Mom has been on the railing and shepherd's hook today. Once she had some nest material in her beak. I have to check to see if they nest more than once a season.

A few minutes ago, Junior showed up on the railing with Mom. Grey head, yellow breast. He certainly was tall. Maybe he's Mom's bodyguard.

I had forgotten. I have a window in the basement where I can look at the nest under the deck. Mother Phoebe is in it. While I was watching her, 2 Carolina Wrens flew into a holly that is adjacent to the area. Then a bunny visited.

I paid special attention to the wrens and confirmed that they are Carolinas--not HOWRs. Of course, Mother Phoebe is borrowing a Carolina's nest.

Yesterday, I noticed that the male joined Mother Phoebe. It looks like I noticed her nesting again about 10 days ago. Maybe she told Father Phoebe to get ready. It is the first time I've seen them together since the last nest of chicks.

Its 20 days since Mother was in her nest. I suppose the first few days she was filling the nest with eggs. Last week, a black snake in the area was relocated. I'm expecting to see more than one bird in that nest tomorrow. I can see the nest from my basement and Mother cannot see me. So, I'm set.

The chicks have arrived. I remembered the nest and went down to the basement to look out the window. No Mother Phoebe. Then she appeared under the deck and fluttered like a hummingbird while she checked the walls of the house. She went up to the nest and fluttered at the occupants. Then off to get more bugs. She stands on the edge of the nest and feeds her chicks.

I can see the tips of the beaks on the chicks but I don't know how many there are. They are about 2 days old.

I'll be looking for Father Phoebe and see when he arrives.

Its amazing how these little puffs of life can cheer up a person's day.

That is really great. Hopefully the chicks will flourish. I think it's neat that you have a basement window you can watch from. You're so right, the little "puffs" can really cheer up a person's day.

I've been following your thread, how nice to have Eastern Phoebe's nesting right under your deck. It's nice to hear people talk about different species, there are so many wonderful birds and yet we don't get to see them nest up close and personal very often. I love hearing the different antics of the Phoebes...glad they are cheering up your days.

There are several little beaks bobbing and weaving in the nest. Mother and Father Phoebe are feeding them together.

One of the parents--looked like Father Phoebe--served up a bug with its wings still on. Father Phoebe was working with the bug for some time. When he delivered it, the bug's body was facing towards Baby Phoebe. Baby Phoebe gulped it down with no complaints.

Both parents stand together on the stamped concrete under the deck. They constantly scour the walls of the house for bugs. Now and then, they go up to the nest for a look-see. I haven't figured that out. Maybe looking for fecal sacs?

Anyway, I can gawk all I want at this little family and they cannot see me.

It's 100 degrees here now. One of the parents landed on the deck rail and its beak was wide open. I went down to check on the kids and it still appears there are at least 3. One of them is flapping its little wings. Its beak is open on its gray little head and its flapping a bit.

I'm guessing they are about 10 days old now. Maybe later next week, they will find a new home.

Just checked on the kids. Mother and Father Phoebe both landed on a little stand outside the basement window. Both had beaks filled with bugs and they went to the nest together to feed the kids. So much for female phoebes chasing the male away.

Earlier, one of the Carolina Wrens dropped by on the deck railing and began singing. One of the Phoebes was on the railing at the same time and both little puffs got along amicably. A little gray bird and a smaller brown bird sharing the same railing. One preening itself and the other singing up a storm.

The chicks--maybe 4--can stand up now in the nest. When a parent comes, all beaks open wide in the direction of the parent.

The nest is empty. All Phoebe chicks fledged this weekend.

The End