Get Involved

Found a Phoebe nest or a banded bird?

Have you seen a small black-and-white bird outside your window? Or a mud nest on your house? Project Phoebe needs your help! Our research team uses these Black Phoebe nests to study how birds respond to urbanization and other forms of environmental change.

If you have had an encounter with either a banded Black Phoebe or a Black Phoebe nest in Yolo, Sacramento or Solano Counties, California, we would love for you to let us know–please visit Report a Sighting.

Banded birds are those that have colorful plastic or silver “anklets” on their legs. Black Phoebe nests are made of mud and are typically found on vertical surfaces with a shelter directly above, so they’re often found on under roofs, roads or bridges. 

Opportunities for Undergraduate Students

Are you a UC Davis undergraduate student looking for research experience? Email Sage at saamadden@ucdavis.edu! Project Phoebe mentors undergraduate students interested in field work, laboratory work, and computer-based analysis of Phoebe nest videos. Our fieldwork is now complete, but we still have opportunities for folks interested in laboratory and computer-based work.