Birds and Nature

Yesterday I found an apparent pair of Black Phoebes near a often use nest site along the Arkansas River at MacKenzie Ave in Canon City. Today I found a single Black Phoebe on private property near a long term nest location. I was pleased to find this Black Phoebe gathering and taking nest material including blobs of mud to a site I had suspected was a nest site but had not been able to confirm in previous years. In this top pic the phoebe is carrying some vegetation with attached mud. Females gather nest material and construct the nest so this is the female. The pic above is that same Black Phoebe with the vegetation in her bill just before she flew to the nest site. The pic below is of the apparent mate who stayed nearby while the female above gathered and brought nest material. SeEtta

I returned to Anzalduas County Park today and watched this Black Phoebe repeatedly gather and carry nesting material to a suitable nest site. The bird would often spend 1 to several minutes in the nesting area which, as is often the case in my experience, is hidden from view. From what I found on the Texas Breeding Bird Survey online and local experts is very early for this area. SeEtta

While birding at Anzalduas County Park yesterday I observed that there were two Black Phoebes and that they perched and foraged in close proximity, a good indication they are a pair. I was only able to photograph one of them and both pics here are of the same phoebe. Later I observed on of them very closely as it flew into a tree about 15 feet above my head and it had nesting material in it's bill. Though this seems really early to me (as Colorado birds don't start until at least April) it would appear that nesting season is beginning for these Black Phoebes. SeEtta