Say's Phoebe pair reunited, central Bldr Cnty

[Linda Andes-Georges]

> I haven't had any good stories to tell for ages -- of any kind--but especially, birdy.
>
> So I thought I'd share this one for those who are like me, starved for good news, or even... sentimental news:
>
> We've had Say's Phoebes nesting on our house ledges for about 11 years, although I assume that there has been a generational change at some point. Last year the male arrived on Mar. 23rd and pined about by himself, breaking my heart with his melancholy cry (I gesture scornfully at those who call notion anthropomorphic) for weeks, looking for a female.
>
> On April 24 she returned... unipodally: one-footed. There was much obvious rejoicing between the two, and subsequent chitter-muttering over the annual challenge of choosing a ledge.
>
> After some scuffling with the sassy House Finches & pestiferous House Sparrows, and fending off a Bluejay attack after they had eggs, the Phoebe pair fledged three young in July. It was amazing to watch the little para-abled female manage her brood throughout, perching on the driveway, where she had balance problems until I thought to put up a nice parakeet-style perch 15 feet from the nest. Then she used that until they all left in the fall.
>
> This year the male again returned Mar. 23. I started to worry, as I always do, about whether a (or even better, THE) female would appear. On 4/1 another phoebe scouted the yard, but it wasn't the right one. Then on 4/16, She arrived. For the first time, I could verify that this was the same bird as the previous year. No mistaking the lopsided perch posture on our deck bench! She is ready to start anew.
>
> My heart soars.
>
> Linda
>
>
> Linda Andes-Georges
> Boulder County (W of Lagerman, N of Haystack, E of Table Mtn)
> [Jean-Pierre says: W of Paris, S of Quebec, E of Tahiti]
> 8417 Stirrup Ln
> Longmont CO 80503
> Tel. 720 668 5214
>