A Walk in Nature Walks the Soul Back Home
My thoughts today are with those who are suffering from the effects of Hurricane Helene.
__________________________
The Black Phoebe:
The Black Phoebe is a dapper flycatcher of the western U.S. with a sooty black body and crisp white belly. They sit in the open on low perches to scan for insects, often keeping up a running series of shrill chirps. Black Phoebes use mud to build cup-shaped nests against walls, overhangs, culverts, and bridges. Look for them near any water source from small streams to suburbs, all the way to the salt-sprayed rocks and cliffs of the Pacific Ocean.
Although it mostly eats insects, the Black Phoebe sometimes snatches minnows from the surface of ponds. It may even feed fish to nestlings.
The male Black Phoebe gives the female a tour of potential nest sites, hovering in front of each likely spot for 5 to 10 seconds. But it’s the female who makes the final decision and does all the nest construction.
The oldest Black Phoebe on record was at least 8 years old when it was recaptured and released during banding operations in California.
(Nikon Z8, 600/6.3, 1/800 @ f/8.0, ISO 800, edited to taste)
A Walk in Nature Walks the Soul Back Home
My thoughts today are with those who are suffering from the effects of Hurricane Helene.
__________________________
The Black Phoebe:
The Black Phoebe is a dapper flycatcher of the western U.S. with a sooty black body and crisp white belly. They sit in the open on low perches to scan for insects, often keeping up a running series of shrill chirps. Black Phoebes use mud to build cup-shaped nests against walls, overhangs, culverts, and bridges. Look for them near any water source from small streams to suburbs, all the way to the salt-sprayed rocks and cliffs of the Pacific Ocean.
Although it mostly eats insects, the Black Phoebe sometimes snatches minnows from the surface of ponds. It may even feed fish to nestlings.
The male Black Phoebe gives the female a tour of potential nest sites, hovering in front of each likely spot for 5 to 10 seconds. But it’s the female who makes the final decision and does all the nest construction.
The oldest Black Phoebe on record was at least 8 years old when it was recaptured and released during banding operations in California.
(Nikon Z8, 600/6.3, 1/800 @ f/8.0, ISO 800, edited to taste)