Tess Cumbie writes: ". . .of the many different species of fledglings in the yard this season, I never did spot a single fledgling Phoebe. Never even saw baby birds in the nest or the Phoebes feeding them. But I am puzzled why I was not able to spot some young Phoebes, when there were all kinds of other young birds in their many different stages of growth, begging and fluttering their wings for food." Tess, it has been my experience that the adult Phoebes are very busy feeding the young in the nest. When the young are ready to fledge, they spend precious little time flexing their wings on the edge of the nest. Those that have hatched here just sort of "disappear." They are here one day being fed in the nest and the next day they are completely gone. I've always assumed that because my yard is in the country the adult Phoebes seer the young into the woods and down to the creek -- but I never see the young after they leave the nest either. Maybe someone else who reads TN-Birds has some experience with Phoebe behavior and can fill us in. Generally, after a couple of weeks absence, the adult Phoebes return without any of their young and get busy with another brood. The Phoebes do not stay in my yard except when nesting and some summers they produce three clutches of eggs. I look forward to their return each spring. It is good to know that you have Phoebes year-round in Buladean, NC. Terry Thornton Rinnie, TN (North of Crossville on the Cumberland Plateau) =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx (423) 764-3958 =========================================================