Eastern Phoebe
The Eastern Phoebe is the first “flycatcher” to arrive at Crane Lake. The flycatcher family is a large one and as their name indicates, they mainly eat insects.
Phoebes are pretty common at Crane Lake and they stay for the summer to raise their young ones. Some cabin owners along the lake will have Phoebes nest under the eaves of their cabins and boathouses. Many birds return to the same nest year after year. They will repair the nests and then raise a couple broods. If you are lucky to have one of these birds nest at your cabin, respect their privacy and they will reward you with nature’s brand of bug control!
Naturalist Marcia Bonta has posted an article today
entitled “Audubon’s Pewee” that provides an in-depth
look on the Eastern Phoebe that indicates the phoebes
were the first birds ever banded in North America by
the hands of John James Audubon who used light
silver thread as banding material…
https://marciabonta.wordpress.com/author/marciamyersbonta/
What a great article – thanks for the link!