Search Results for: hummingbird nest

I’m not one whit interested in spectator sports, not even the Super Bowl.

But oooh, check out these LiveCam images of a mama hummingbird and her hatchling! If I didn’t have so many chores on my list, I’d watch them all day long.

Remember the magical day I discovered a hummingbird nest in my backyard? It was so much fun to watch those babies grow! Our Mama hummingbird abandoned her nest long ago, and over time, its walnut shape was flattened by devil winds and torrential rains. And yet, it’s still held in place by spider silk–a lingering reminder of the tiny miracles it once held. 

The remaining hummingbird (Tama? Itzel?) doesn’t seem too anxious to fly the coop. Orange blossoms are hanging heavy over her nest, so whenever she gets hungry, she stretches out her long beak and feasts on nectar from the open flowers. And of course, her mama still buzzes by to feed her insects and other goodies. This is the hummingbird equivalent of the Queen of Sheba, eating peeled grapes proffered by palm-frond-waving servants. 

Dave (from Wild Birds Unlimited) said our hummingbird hatchling should be looking for her own dining room table by now. But with food in such abundance, it seems she’s got no incentive to venture out on her own. 

I certainly have no problem with her staying as long as she likes. But maybe it’s time for a little tough love, Mama? 

Squeak sat in her little nest
and poked her sister Squawk
I think, she said, that we should have
a sister-sister talk.
If we don’t fly I’m just afraid
that one of us will smother
And, Lordy, that will disappoint
our helicopter-mother.
Susan Winning
 

The remaining hummingbird seems nonplussed by its sibling’s absence. In fact, I think it rather enjoys having extra room in which to spread his wings and fluff out its feathers. Look closely at the plumage on its head…see that tiny bit of purple poking through? The one who flew the coop yesterday had even more purple on its head. It’s still too early to be certain of their sex, but male Costa’s Hummingbirds have purple crowns.

Earlier today I met with Dave Brandt, a certified Bird and Bird Feeding expert at Wild Birds Unlimited. He graciously agreed to select the winning entry in the Hummingbird Naming Contest. 

Dave indulged my whimsy undertook his responsibilities with all due seriousness. First he read carefully through all the entries, nodding and smiling at the (16!) high-caliber submissions. Then looking off into the distance, he reflected on his choices. In the end, he gave his resounding endorsement to the names submitted by Sharon, aka whiskersink. 

Tama (which means jewel) and Itzel (which means rainbow)

If you haven’t yet read the Mayan folk tale on which they’re based, you simply must.

Thanks for judging the contest, Dave! I love your store, and I’m so grateful for all you’re teaching me about these tiny creatures. Thanks also to everyone who entered this contest — your ideas were fabulous, and I love that you’re sharing this miracle with me. And, of course, special congratulations to you, Sharon! Please send me your address, so I can send you a copy of Flight Plans: A Bird’s-eye View of Life. 

Come to the edge.
We might fall.
Come to the edge.

It’s too high!
COME TO THE EDGE!
And they came,
and he pushed,
and they flew.

–Christopher Logue

 

Early this morning, I visited our hummingbird high-rise. I counted two heads poking up over the nest, two beaks facing the sun. 

 
As I carried my coffee to my office, I caught wing flurries out of the corner of my eye. A walnut-sized lump settled in my throat. Today, they’ll learn to fly.  I climbed the ladder for one last picture of the two hummingbird hatchlings, nestled together in their tiny home.

 

Just a few minutes ago, I stopped by the picture window again. As if on cue, one of the birds suddenly pushed itself off the edge of the nest, like a jet backing away from the terminal. For a few long seconds, it hung suspended in mid-air, flapping its tiny wings good-bye. Then it propelled itself forward, darting up, up and away. 

 

  
I spotted two newly-laid eggs just over a month ago. And now, one bird remains in the nest. No, I’m not crying. Not me. Pfft, why do you ask?
   

Be like a bird

That pausing in her flight

Awhile on boughs to light,

Feels them give way

Beneath her and yet sings,

Knowing that she hath wings.
Victor Marie Hugo

I’m imagining myself as that proud but admittedly obnoxious auntie who brags incessantly about her nieces and nephews, who whips out their most recent photos at every opportunity. I can’t help myself, I swear it. Our baby hummingbirds are just so adorable, and it’s been such a miracle to see them hatch and grow.

They’re so funny. Now and again, I’ll see one of them stretch, ruffle her* wings, and poke at her iridescent plumage with her very long beak. The second hummingbird, forced to the very edge of the nest by all the activity, gets a wild-eyed look that says, "Mom, she’s touching me! Tell her to move over!" Just when it seems one or the other’s about ready to topple overboard, they both get really still — almost as if to say, "Whoa, that was scary!" But not long afterward, the other one follows suit, nudging her sister with her beak or an outstretched wing. "Hey, wanna try that again?"

Doesn’t look to me like they’re planning a weekend getaway, though. I’m glad to have them around, for whatever time they choose to stay.

*Their coloring seems to suggest that they’re both female Costa’s Hummingbirds. We won’t know for sure until they reach full maturity.

And once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return.

Leonardo da Vinci

By all accounts, these hatchlings should be flying by now. But if this snapshot’s any indication, it seems our hummingbirds plan to hunker down until Mama Bird stops feeding them or they tumble out the sides of their overstretched nest. 

I’d love to have the hatchlings hang around forever, but I realize their survival depends on their abilty to take wing and fly. I suspect that’ll happen very soon; in the meantime, I hope my hummingbird entries haven’t overstayed their welcome.

  

While I was away doing research, our hummingbird hatchlings kept right on growing. In just five days, they’ve developed longer beaks, bigger bodies, and thicker plumage. As you can see, they’re almost full-grown, and they’re stretching their nest to its limits. 

Another homecoming treat: The citrus blossoms are finally opening in the orange tree where Mama Hummingbird built their home. The morning air is filled with their heavenly fragrance.

Are the hummingbird babies flying yet? I’m not sure, but I’ll let you know.

  

That little bird has chosen his shelter.  Above it are the stars and the
deep heaven of worlds.  Yet he is rocking himself to sleep without
caring for tomorrow’s lodging, calmly clinging to his little twig,
and leaving God to think for him.
Martin Luther

First thing every morning, I run to the window to see if mama hummingbird’s still incubating her eggs. As you can see, they still haven’t hatched.*

I’m awe-struck by the craftsmanship and materials she used to build this tiny home. With spider silk, downy feathers and lichen, she created a cushion for the eggs. Then she wove a tapestry of spider silk, to tie the nest to the branch.

 

Mama Bird is small but mighty — whenever I venture near, she zips around like a fighter jet, dive-bombing and clicking her disapproval. But as soon as I retreat with my ladder, she settles peacefully onto her nest.

 

Could it be that my curiousity is too distressing for her? I took a field trip to Wild Birds Unlimited. A hummingbird expert told me not to worry. “If she’s upset with you, she’ll get all up in your face and tell you so," he said, "but nothing will keep her away from her babies.” He did suggest, however, that I hold back once the hatchlings are about 8-9 days old. If I startle them, they might try to fly from the nest too soon.

 

I’m relieved. I don’t approach her nest every day, but I can’t seem to stay away.

 

*Hummingbirds incubate for 12-14 days. I discovered this nest on February 8^th, so I’m guessing the eggs should hatch sometime very soon. I’ll post a picture when that happens, if Mama Bird lets me get close enough to get a good shot.