Phoebes need to be able to swoop — they fly in and out of their nests —-and they need lots of clearance !!!! Not like box nesters! Do not enclose the nest in a chicken wire cage !!!!! Watch some videos of phoebes flying to see or call Cornell or Tufts wildlife center. Maybe You can make a baffle u see it, one that a squirrel can’t get around- so predators can’t get to the nest- - we have made many different kinds over the years - one year screwed plexiglass sheet over the wall under the nest (on a flipped up outdoor outlet cover!) so predators couldn’t get purchase to climb!

Good for you! Two years ago a pair had a nest under the roof of the shed overhang, I think it gotten too buys, with me going in and out of the shed so they abandoned it. Last year a pair...could have been the same birds?...build a nest under the bridge of pond structure and successfully had 3 chicks. One day when I was curious and wanting to see the chicks, me on the belly and looking under the bridge they fledged! They flew away with no struggle, just like adults! Hope they come back this year. Here one of the fledgelings.. .. Konrad

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

Yes, they are handsome birds! I'm lucky enough to have them nest around the outside of our house.