Birds

First Phoebe of 2012

April 4, 2012 by Corey 7 Comments

Though this question is probably only relevant to birders in the midwest and northeast of the United States I feel compelled, like last year, to ask it. Have you seen your first Eastern Phoebe of 2012? When? Was it earlier or later than usual for you?

my first decently photographed Eastern Phoebe of 2012 at Bayonne Park on 4 April 2012

This year I had several first phoebes. I saw one on Long Island way back on 08 January but that was clearly a bird attempting to winter. (And as far as wintering birds I had them on my trip to Florida as well.)  My first migrating Eastern Phoebe of the year was at the Oradell Reservoir in New Jersey on 15 March, slightly earlier than my average of 19 March. My first migrating phoebe in New York wasn’t until 29 March at Forest Park in my home borough of Queens.

When did you get your first phoebe of the year? And if this game doesn’t apply to you I am sorry…but my first phoebes are too cool to not post about!

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Written by Corey
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.