The Eastern Phoebe nestlings set a new record ... the One Second Fledge ... all five in just over one second.
The poor parent Phoebes had been trying to coax the nestlings out of the nest for days. It was clear the youngsters were more than mature enough to leave, but they held on ... for days. Then, on the morning of April 26, they were off -- all five, almost simultaneously.
This wasn't the usual fledge ... one at a time ... fluttering to the nearest shrub. Oh, no ... these guys flew around the alcove where their nest was located before skillfully exiting stage left.
In the next post, I will reveal my newest "invention" -- a THEORETICALLY snake-proof nesting platform. It's now in place and has been adopted by the Phoebe parents. Snake test to follow -- about 100% likely.
Because I installed a new platform, I removed all of my prior platforms/snake detergents ... including the camera on which the Phoebes built the nest from which the five nestlings launched in April. This provided an opportunity for detailed pictures (shown below) of the nest.
Funny how birds incorporate an assortment of materials into the construction.
Phoebe Nest: 5 Inches Across
Phoebe Nest Cup: Only 1/2 Inch Deep
Phoebe Nest: Mud, Moss & More Mud
