Randy, The ones that overwinter here (some years) never seem to come to the birdfeeders, so I don't think they eat birdseed. However, I often see them in the possumhaw hollies so I think they might survive partially on possumhaw berries (and other types of berries as well). Also, we do have some insects active here even in the winter months....small bees, flies, ground beetles, etc. and I know the phoebes eat them when they can catch them. Since you are significantly further north than we are, I don't know how many bugs are available to your phoebes in the winter months, though. We live in horse and cattle country, so there are usually plenty of flies year round, at least around the stock barns! One winter, we had overwintering phoebes and a pretty severe ice and snow storm, so I thawed out some frozen mixed berries (strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries) and put them outside on the ground in an area of the yard where I often saw the phoebes.....underneath a clump of possumhaw hollies. The phoebes and other birds devoured those berries that day. Sometimes I see the phoebes sitting on the garden fence and spending quite a bit of time in the veggie garden, so I think they might be looking for insects that might be overwintering in garden debris or mulch. They also hang out around the compost pile a lot. I'm not sure what your phoebes are eating routinely in good weather, but think that in the bad weather, they tend to eat whatever they can find. The bug-eating birds that overwinter here seem to get pretty hungry during prolonged periods of cold, but the bugs reappear on warmer days and the birds really feast then. Dawn

Also, keep an eye on springtime temperature forecasts. If the overnight forecast is for below, say ~39f, then move your plants to safety. A lot of us move our container plants around in the spring and fall, for temperature reasons. Otherwise everything else previously mentioned makes sense imho. I've read a lot about hot climate gardening. It seems that everyone is either using shadecloth, or planting in areas that are shaded during a hot portion of the day. You could frame it up using flexible pvc conduit, like a hoophouse for instance. You would fasten shadecloth over the top, and leave the sides open. You can always remove the shadecloth if there's extreme weather in the forecast. The PVC conduit frame can also double as a greenhouse to extend your growing season. That's just one idea, but you may discover better alternates upon researching the topic. Good luck. Steve Here is a link that might be useful: Inexpensive Hoophouse's on YouTube This post was edited by sjetski on Wed, Dec 11, 13 at 10:20

Well, we did eventually. We left it for a few days, hoping the cowbirds would move on. We shook it first so there would be no chance of it hatching. But as the days went on, I was afraid it would hatch and that would mean the end of the four phoebe chicks' hopes for survival. However, the four chicks hatched (after we removed the cowbird egg), two one day, and two the next. Both days, the newly hatched chicks simply vanished from the nest. Is that the cowbird? (We still see them around the yard.) The phoebes are constructing a new nest on the other end of the door lintel as I write this. They are going to try again... I wish I had a solution to the cowbird dilemma! I am wondering if the two (nearly identical) nests will somehow provide some (decoy) protection this time? How smart are cowbirds anyway?!!

No, they don't feed at night so you are safe bringing your feeders in to prevent freezing. Mine are showing up at the feeders before its completely light, approx. 7 - 7:15 AM. I know your daytime temps have been in that range where the nectar will freeze so you may have to keep an eye on them during this storm, either change them or do some thawing. Other storms here, I've resorted to adding more syrup heated in the microwave, my hair blower, and duct taping hand warmer packets to the feeders. Kind of a hassle and since I've been working from home, its almost as easy for me just to swap out feeders or dump and refill them. Your hummer is an Anna's. They are year round residents in much of the PNW. I saw one at my brothers Christmas day (Raleigh Hills) and they don't feed them, it was at the winter blooming camellias. If you think you have a feeder not being used or being ignored, you could tie a piece of red ribbon to it to attract them. DH has a red wool hat he sometimes wears in winter, he can barely get from the house to his truck without them flying into his face ;0) Watch for the freezing rain that is supposed to begin falling there, check to make sure the feeding ports haven't iced over. I've been keeping an eye on your weather, my mother is now living in a retirement facility there, I've been worried about her getting to a store for her breakfast things. She has lunch, dinner in the dining room but won't sign up for the breakfast program. My brother took her this morning ;0) Recent thread about our winter conditions here