Say, Is That a Say's Phoebe?
Fledgling Phoebes: August 20, 2009: Aren't these little guys adorable? Early in the morning, day before yesterday, I noticed movement on the deck. And there they were -- a family of Say's Phoebes (Sayornis saya).
The parents flew back and forth with bug offerings for their brood; one baby gulped down a whole dragonfly! In a flurry of soft twittering calls similar to those of bluebirds and soft taupe and cinnamon colors, this family has spent three days on our deck furniture, trying out the big world!
I think they may have a nest in a corner of the roof, up high where we can't see. We'll certainly be on the lookout for them next summer!
The fledglings huddled together in a feathery pile on the couch cushion. I wonder if the feathery pattern on the cushions had anything to do with the family's choice of fledging spot!
Phunny Phluffy Phoebe Phledglings
I think they may have a nest in a corner of the roof, up high where we can't see. We'll certainly be on the lookout for them next summer!
As we embark on this GoinMobyle adventure, we're becoming bird watchers -- there are so many lovely and fierce birds to see. From the lark buntings in the spring grass on the prairie to the twirling Wilson's phalaropes in the prairie ponds to the ospreys and eagles in the Black Hills -- we now always travel with bird books and binoculars!
Louise with photos by Brian
text and photos copyright GoinMobyle, LLC, 2010