[tn-bird] Thieving raccoons/hummer shower/phoebe to fledge soon

Since the subject of raccoon damage came up quite recently, I'd like to add 
another incident that occurred just last night.  (Another missing suet basket 
was 3 nights ago, the last remaining is now secured to a tree with a piece of 
wire wrapped around it and the tree.)  My dog was fed her meal last night and 
the last I knew she did not eat it, at least not much.  Its the heat.  From 
what we can tell she will keep the grub until later in the eve.  Not last 
night, for when my husband checked on her this morning her bowl with her dinner 
was gone.  The bowl weighed a few pounds by itself.  Plus, whoever visited 
drank all of her water.  She probably slept through the whole thing.  With a 
watch command like this I'm gonna have to start sleeping with a pistol under my 
pillow.

While watering a flowerbed in the yard, then spraying the water straight up in 
the air for the shear enjoyment of giving myself a pretend rainstorm in the 
heat of the day, I was joined by a male R-t Hummingbird.  Since we have had no 
rain for a while this little shower was a welcome, I'm sure.  Add "mister" to 
list of things to buy, along with "dog bowl".

For the last hour, from where I sit I have watched as an Eastern Phoebe has 
climbed out of the nest, has flapped its wings, become more surefooted as it 
perches on the rim of the nest, become a bit wobbly, appears to have fallen 
asleep, has been fed by mom and so on.  What a great vantage point.  I can 
watch most of what goes on and not disturb them since the nest is only three 
feet from the window.  The last I knew this phoebe had one nest mate since the 
others disappeared while still in the shell.  

Happy birding!

Anna Varney
Summertown, TN  

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