I had been watching some little birds flying in and out under the deck last month, and repeatedly checked for nest building activity. Well, somehow I missed it, because they built this mossy little thing way up in the eaves. By the time I found it, there was a small, white egg there, and I didn't have the heart to destroy it. I also wasn't able to identify the parents - they were a species that I had not seen around here very much.
We kept an eye on things, but can only peep by climbing on a ladder and taking a blind cell phone picture. By the time Mama Bird was finished, there were 5 little eggs in the nest.
At the end of last week, L noticed a tiny, naked baby bird on the ground under the nest. A few days later, we discovered 3 little semi-fluffy guys still at home in the mossy nest.
I was also able to identify the parents as Eastern Phoebes. They have a cute habit of sitting on the fence around my flower bed, and puffing up the feathers on their heads.
We also noticed a tiny nest being built in one of my weeping cherries. You have to look hard to see it!
By yesterday, it also had 2 very diminutive blue eggs with brown spots. I have yet to see the parents, but these may be the eggs of House Finches, based on my research. Apparently Cowbirds love to parasitize the nests of finches, and add their eggs there as well, so we'll have to keep an eye out for that.
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