In all the years I have birded McKee-Beshers WMA in Montgomery Co. one
thing I have been sure of is the number of nesting Eastern Phoebes because I
knew where their limited nest sites were located- 4 bridges, 2 culverts and
various buildings depending on the year-but this year I found a new nest
site which has me expanding my horizons.
     In late May I was returning from a survey of the eastern floodplain 
forest and swampland when I heard phoebes in a dried out wooded swamp where 
I knew there weren't any regular nest sites.  Investigating further I 
discovered a nest on the conical raccoon guard under a Wood Duck box 
containing young.   Since then I have found 2 more nests in similar 
locations.  Of course I have checked all the duck boxes I find. Since there 
are so many duck boxes there is a good chance there will be a significant 
increase in nesting phoebes.  It has been a good year for them anyway since 
I have birds at all the regular locations despite the bad weather earlier in 
the year.
       This is a recent development and seems to be correlated with the type 
and location of the raccoon guards.  The earlier wood duck boxes here had 
tubular guards with no place for phoebes to nest.  Another type had conical 
guards which were some distance from the box( I haven't found any phoebe 
nests here).  The newer boxes have the guards right under the box and this 
is where I have found the nests.  I read in the BNA species account that 
phoebes often like to have their nests close to an overhanging structure.
     I should point out that one of the dog training groups is building 
these boxes and erected them throughout the area.

Paul Woodward
Fairfax City, VA