Eastern Phoebe
Nesting season is winding down for most songbirds, though more industrious species are still working on raising a second brood. By mid-summer the young of the year are active and you often see them flitting around testing their wings in the yard or perched together on telephone wires. Hopefully, the Eastern phoebes that were raised in this nest are among them. I took a photo of the nest back in May and finally had a chance to paint it with my class Bird, Nest, Eggs.
Tips and Techniques– Bird nests are made of all sorts of materials. When sketching one, take a close look at both the outside and inner cup and try to identify what they are made of. You’ll likely find finer grasses, plant down, or feathers on the inside and courser fibers, bark, mosses, lichen, bark, or twigs on the outside. The more you look, the more you’ll see, and the more true to the bird your sketch will be.
COMING UP: Mushroom Explosion in Watercolor, August 10 and 17 at Winslow Art Center, and Bird Nest Basics, September 13 at the online Wild Wonder Conference.
Drawn In 
Good morning,! I’m always pleased to see another drawing. I’m am enjoying drawing much more the more I look. Your suggestions have been an impetus, plus John Muir Laws focus on detail— a work in progress.
Thank you for your posts.
Sounds good, Dane. I enjoy the observation, awareness, and learning as much as the drawing.
Fabulous
Thanks Sherry!
Wonderful, Jean! I also hope the young in your woods were your nesters! I love your painting, especially how you added the phoebe’s signature call and an illustrated menu. Your tips and techniques remind me to always observe closely. Makes me wonder if nesting material choices are beginning to differ due to climate influences and availability when birds arrive to nest. You have an excellent record over the years to detect patterns! How interesting Thanks for sharing your beautiful work!
Hi Barb. I don’t think changes in nesting material are happening (yet), but shifts in food availability in spring are starting to happen for some species and, as usual, the specialist birds are being impacted most. I’m still recording very consistent migration data year to year.
At least birds can fly and hopefully find what they need for survival. I’ve been reading a mix of research articles, enough to know that the key is either adapt or extinction. Many bird species are adaptable (to an extent), and exhibit high plasticity. I’m beginning to notice shifts in migration timing for some species, but when the hummers arrived this spring, here wasn’t anything to eat. Wonder where they went? Thanks for the reply.
Heh, you made a poem! “The more you look, the more you’ll see, and the more true to the bird your sketch will be.” Excellent advice!
Well, a rhyme anyway. I suspect you find the same to be true for photography.
So beautiful!
I love your work, Jean. Your birds are so realistic. Simply beautiful.
Thanks so much Peggy!
Hi Jean,
This drawing is just wonderful. Do you sell it as a print? We are having our first baby in August who will share a namesake with the eastern Phoebe, and this print would make a perfect addition to her nursery.
Thank you!
Hi Brittany– I’ll reach out to you by email to give you details on purchasing a print. Thanks for your interest! –Jean
I’d love the link as well please! The name of our cabin is Phoebe after the bird. Thank you!