Annual Holiday Brunch & State of the Phoebes Meeting 2025

Sunday December 7, 2025 • Home of Kirsten Hines • Report by Kirsten Hines

Squawks filled the air as a small flock of Blue-and-yellow Macaws descended upon a royal palm in my yard. It wasn’t the first time this had happened, but it was rare enough to feel significant – perhaps an avian blessing of the annual Phoebes Birding holiday brunch being hosted in my garden later that day. I watched as the birds feasted on the palm’s newly ripened fruit, their contented squabbling wafting through the yard.

The macaws left before the first women arrived, but I was reminded of the feasting birds as tables filled with picnic delights and sounds of laughter filled the sky. This was always the highlight of the event, but our gathering of nearly 30 eventually settled at one end of the garden for an overview of 2025’s successes and a chance to dream about 2026.

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird hovered above as Ana Lima recounted the year’s nine successful events. The hummingbird continued to zip about as Miriam Avello invited all to join the upcoming Christmas Bird Counts and a January camping trip to Long Pine Key. The hummingbird even stuck around for the brainstorm session, undoubtedly oblivious to the details but perhaps picking up on the group’s enthusiasm at the prospect of adding a birdy book club to the Phoebe’s endeavors.

After the formal meeting some returned to feasting while others joined me for a brief tour of my garden. I showed them pictures of what it looked like when I first moved in to highlight the changes. I pointed out native plants and other bird-friendly features and arrangements that might be incorporated into anyone’s yard and I noted that my own yard bird list had expanded from a single bird to nearly 100 species. The macaws didn’t return for my tour, but it did seem that their festive spirit lasted throughout the day.   

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