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Wednesday, May 27, 2009 Orono Weekly Times - 13 Clarington Museums and Archives Birds of a Feather Eastern Phoebe and Not Black Phoebe Yes, after much research I have learnt that the correct bird ID is the Eastern Phoebe & not the Black Phoebe. Cheerful and restless little birds, the Eastern Phoebes have neither eye-rings nor wing bars to distinguish them. And the erectile feathers on their heads are far too short to make a respectable crest. Pumping their tails up and down as only phoebes can, the males perch among the leafless trees and announce themselves to everyone within earshot by emphatically and endlessly repeating their name: "fee-bee fee-bee feebee." Here are some of the distinguishing characteristics of two kinds of Phoebes: Black Phoebe: 6" - 7" i.e. 15 - 18 cm. Slate-black except for white belly, undertail coverts, and outer tail feathers. Tail-wagging, erect posture, and insectivorous . Nesting 3 - 6 white eggs, with a few faint speckles, in a mud, moss, and grass nest lined with soft material, often feathers or cow hair. Range - resident from northern California south and east to southern Texas. Also in tropics. They are solitary nesters, often remaining yearround in an established territory. Eastern Phoebe: 7" i.e. 18 cm. Dull olive green without an eye ring or wing bars. Wags its tail. Nesting 4 or 5 white eggs in a mud-and-grass nest lined with moss and hair and attached to a ledge of a building, bridge, cliff, or quarry, or among roots of a fallen tree. Range - breeds in Canada and United States east of Rockies, south to northern edge of Gulf states. They arrive early in spring and depart late in fall, sometimes even staying through the winter in the northern states. In the absence of insects, its winter food is berries. Extraordinarily tame at the nest, they were probably the first bird ever banded: Plant sale fundraiser at Bowmanville museum by Mr. Dick Verkuyl Eastern Phoebe Audubon marked one with a silver wire on the leg in 1840 and recorded its return the following year The above gives you just a small picture of what the phoebes look and act like. We did see a cracked and smashed egg in the verandah underneath the nest. We have not been able to see the other eggs in the nest but sometimes the Brown headed Cow bird will lay her eggs in a phoebe nest in order for them to hatch the egg for her. But if there are too many eggs in one nest the adults will throw some eggs over the edge. Markus Lise lives in Newcastle. He is a retired minister who now works as a "Minister of Nature." Bowmanville, ON, May 19th, 2009--- The Bowmanville Museum is located in the former residence of Mr. John H.H. Jury. Mr Jury was an avid gardener and a founder of the Brooksdale-Kingsway Nursery. The grounds of the museum feature many plants that were grown by the Jury family. The museum grounds also include The Potting Shed which was used by the Jury's in pursuing their gardening interests and the Conservatory which is attached to the main house. Staff and volunteers at the Bowmanville Museum have been busy using the historic Conservatory at the museum once again for its original purpose. It is blossoming with plants in preparation for the Museum's sixth annual Plant Sale. There are lots of varieties including vegetable plants, flowers, tropicals and even plants from the museum's own gardens.. Stock your gardens while supporting your local museum! The Plant Sale is on Saturday, May 30, 2009 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The Bowmanville Museum is located at 37 Silver Street in Bowmanville. The Museum Gift Shop will be open with a selection of local history books and unique Canadian handicrafts including garden accessories. For more information, please contact the museum office at 905-623-2734 or visit our website at www.claringtonmuseums.com. Loyal Printing Ltd. "Everything with the printed word" We now offer full colour digital printing! 5310 Main St., Orono L0B 1M0 · 905-983-5301