Friendly Phoebes
June 7, 2011 | By Guest Writer Intern Brinleigh Naughton
Recent additions to Irvine’s animal population have people talking!
Located beneath the Exhibit Hall’s deck − directly across from the Outdoor Classroom − four baby phoebe birds are growing up quickly, while their mother and father search for insects nearby. The common phoebe took nest at Irvine, and in the beginning of May the first baby hatched. The remaining eggs opened just a few days later.
The phoebe is unique because it spends more time in Maryland during the warmer months than many other migratory songbirds. This allows Irvine to see not one, but hopefully two or even three broods from the birds this year. Another interesting thing about the phoebe is that unlike other birds, they return to their nests from year to year rather than building new ones. Irvine’s phoebe has come back to this same location for the past three years!
As the weather has warmed, our staff watched as the first four babies fledged from the nest! Each of them landed – if a bit unsteadily – in the bushes below. Then, with some encouragement from their parents, took off for new places!
 And on June 1, Irvine saw the mother laid a new egg, followed by 4 more in the days following. Now there are 5 eggs expected to hatch on June 16, so stayed tuned and check them out on Irvine’s webcam. Or check out Irvine’s Facebook page for updates about this growing family.
Brinleigh Naughton is an upcoming freshman at University of Vermont. She spent three weeks with Irvine’s marketing team for her senior project at St. Paul’s School for Girls.
|
