Arriving home at 12:30 Thursday I noticed that both Phoebes were off the nest — one phoebe perched — one flying back and forth; and I thought it would be an opportune time to check on the eggs.

I found two Red Squirrel tails hanging off one corner of the nest; one tail was inert — one was frequently twitching, although with no reaction when tapped with my nest mirror. I pushed the mirror over the nest. One squirrel jumped to the ground. I raised the mirror again. The second squirrel jumped to my arm and to the ground.

All six eggs were still intact. I doubt the eggs lost any heat with two young(?) squirrels jammed into the nest as surrogates/incubators!  A phoebe was back on the nest within a minute and was still incubating at nighttime.

7 PM: Continuing .... Two small squirrels were entangled on the deck on the other side of the house; one carrying the other beneath it across the lawn, back to the deck, up the wall and jammed between the downspout and the wall. At 6 AM the two also had been hyperactively chasing each other.

Dave Hoag, Grand Isle