I'm a small builder of homes in Loudoun county and we're about done a nice
Queen Anne house in Lovettsville. One thing about Queen Anne's is they
usually have lots of porches. And such wooden structures seem to be
favored by many Eastern Phoebe's up here.
At our current jobsite yesterday I discovered a Phoebe's nest above a
recessed light fixture I mounted under a porch (which is above a lower
patio). The ironic thing is that my carpenter is ready to apply the patio
ceiling, which would enclose the nest. So I'll check for eggs tomorrow,
and if we have 'em, I'll have the carpenter hold off until the nestlings
hatch and fledge.
So we haven't sold this house yet, but the Phoebe has already moved in.
Our last house also had a Phoebe build a nest (in one day!) in the cross
bracing of a family room ceiling two days before drywalling was
scheduled. I moved the nest, knowing it would certainly be abandoned, but
we couldn't stop the house build. The same Phoebe rebuilt the nest under
the front porch, where it gave my daughters a front row seat for the two
nestlings (and one unhatched Cowbird egg).
I've come to really love the Phoebes that seem to follow me between
building sites!
John Broman
Piedmont Vintage Homes, LLC
Lovettsville, VA
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