Saturday 12 May 2012

Phoebe's feeble nest refuge

'Tis a perfect spot for my granddaughters!
 My backyard has a tree house, built by the previous owner, a furniture maker, using wood from our property.
Huge pine supports the tree house
JOS guards the tree house!
The balcony

Mossy nest, shot through the chicken wire!
S/he is building it beside the doorway.


My twins explore the tree house.
Felix is on the roof, Buster the branch.

Nest location is a tricky thing. Phoebe, again, has chosen to build it in the tree house.

Bungied chicken wire on the balcony,
see the nest mid-photo!

Totally blocked the door to cats!
Not really a good refuge, with three cats who patrol. Last year, the nest was destroyed (cat or raccoon?) before I protected it. Two little eggs eaten on the floor.

This year I am being proactive, and have blocked the doorway with an old trunk and the balcony window with chicken wire.
Phoebe can fly out over the box, or out the balcony.


Felix sits on the steps, busted!
I see the parents everywhere.

THis one hit the window.


It flew off after a moment.
#214

Here he is, listen to his spring song in the video.
Here is a video of the phoebe, singing high in the tree in our backyard.

9 comments:

Misty DawnS said...

We have Phoebes here too. They are such pretty little birds. I hope your proactive attempts at protecting the nest are successful.

Red said...

I happen to have had a Phoebe on my kitchen widow ledge two days ago. they are a very quite gentle little bird. It's the first one I've ever seen in my yard.

Angela said...

Very nice pictures. I love the tree house!

Linda said...

So nice of you to help protect the nest! Very pretty bird...and I love the tree house!

Marie said...

Wonderful photos! I hope that your efforts work to thwart the kitties -- our kitties would want to go after the nests too, of course :-)

Visiting via Camera Critters

eileeninmd said...

I am happy you are protecting the Phoebe's nest. great post and I loved the photos. They are pretty birds.

Brian King said...

How cool! Nice work with the phoebe's!

Sallie (FullTime-Life.com said...

How cool, you bought a place with a tree house for your grandgirls!

Beautiful bird -- a new one (virtually) for me.

Jessica Cassidy said...

what a beautiful place of birds to stay, beautiful views too :-) Dropping by from Camera Critters