(Missed the previous days' entries? Here's the link. )
Day 9. "It's Nature's way," I am told. And it's statistically true that only 50% of hummingbird hatchlings grow iridescent wings and fledge. But numbers count for nothing, when you're trying to reconcile wishes with reality…reality being that one of the baby hummingbirds fell from the nest this morning. I don't know the how or why, but it was already dead when I found it.
Day 11. At this point, the hatchling is covered with pinfeathers, so Hope broods less often, even at night. To avoid attracting the attention of predators, she steers clear of the nest, save for the few seconds it takes to feed her hatchling. Feeding intervals vary, from less than ten minutes to more than an hour and a half.
Day 12. Look in the upper left corner: you can see one of the hatchling's tiny wings!
The nest is slanted, thanks to the heavy winds and rains, but it's not going anyway. That's because hummingbirds lash their nests to nearby branches with spider silk, which is at once flexible and super-strong. Hope brooded last night, and again today. I think she's trying to keep her hatchling warm while the nest dries.
Day 14. Hope allowed me a couple of pictures before she buzzed past my head, clicking and helicoptering her tiny wings.
As you can see from this second picture, the hatchling's pinfeather casings are breaking open now, and the beak is much darker. Before long, we'll see its iridescent feathers. Hope's baby must surely have a neck ache by now, what with staying in that position for lo, these many days. But I'm pretty sure it has something to do with balancing itself on a downward-tilted nest.
Day 15. Hope's hatchling has all its pinfeathers now, and is beginning to sprout real feathers. It lies motionless for much of the time, so as not to attract predators, but it raises its beak whenever it senses Hope is near.
Within the confines of its nest, the hatchling strengthens its flying muscles. It does this by gripping the floor with its feet and flapping its wings. Random fact: from the time they first hatch, baby hummingbirds do everything they can to drop their waste over the side of the nest (FYI, in case you hadn't already noticed).
Day 16. Look! The hummingbird hatchling's got tiny tail feathers! This picture also shows the downward slant of the nest–quite the balancing act, no? Time to fledge: 7 days and counting…
Missed the first set of pictures? Go back to Hope's Hatchlings, Part One
Want to see more? Hope's Hatchling's, Part Three (and a naming contest)
These are TERRIFIC!
Thank you. The nest is far above my head, and slanted downward. That makes it hard to capture “perfect” images, but the subject matter makes it all worth it. 🙂
Want to see more, and/or enter the naming contest? Go here: http://newport2newport.livejournal.com/341026.html
I’m impressed by how short his bill still is (and yes, that nest really does seem precarious. Let’s hear it for spider silk!)
rsdqo
http://www.nanocool.co.uk/ http://www.abelmec.it/ http://www.rose-team.co.uk/ http://www.umts-total.de/ http://www.etudiant-catholique-st-etienne.fr/ Jerrold Nadler called and asked. [url=http://www.cap-liberte-dettwiller.fr/]roger vivier pas cher[/url] [url=http://www.happymedicalservice.it/]miu miu borse sito ufficiale[/url] [url=http://www.mediationthatworks.co.uk/]fred perry outlet store[/url] [url=http://www.tsrjyulechao.com/]clarisonic brush[/url] [url=http://www.slidecityscreen.it/]scarpe tods[/url] Unlike most other organs within the body. But the country still has inequalities in the income of population. outlet miu miu clarisonic brush heads mont blanc pens mbt shoes borse tods prezzi Therefore who is going to sit in the house to see their little ones grow?
mrcrp
http://www.muellerleile-online-dienst.de/ http://www.harmoniaecomo.it/ http://www.relaxtorevive.co.uk/ http://www.legalitademocrazia.it/ http://www.restaurantmennecy.fr/ Please enter a description. [url=http://www.theater-im-loft.com/]clarisonic brush heads[/url] [url=http://www.abelmec.it/]spaccio tods[/url] [url=http://www.monsoonpress.co.uk/]cheap fred perry polo shirts[/url] [url=http://www.apexeducation.co.uk/]jimmy choo[/url] [url=http://www.weinisirenyuleok.com/]mia 2 clarisonic[/url] and caught him by a neck in the muddy May 16. Aging skin happens when free radicals attack the body. lancel brigitte bardot red wing shoes sale bottega veneta borse fred perry cheap spaccio bottega veneta the Bullitt Center wants natural lighting to be the main focus of the design.
teivs
http://www.la-boule-obut-42.fr/ http://www.elodolypompiercreation.fr/ http://www.szwedshop.com/ http://www.amalgamated-services.co.uk/ http://www.relaxtorevive.co.uk/ theatre and music from time to time. [url=http://www.jamesblue.co.uk/]jimmy choo uk[/url] [url=http://www.slidecityscreen.it/]tods sito ufficiale[/url] [url=http://www.tys568.com/]clarisonic mia 2 reviews[/url] [url=http://www.ucvtm.com/]mia 2 clarisonic sale[/url] [url=http://www.whitneyspiveyphoto.com/]perfect curl babyliss[/url] Do not forget about time zone differences either. I might start using this if it’s not also secretly a very dirty word. tods outlet outlet bottega veneta on line clarisonic reviews sac lancel bb mont blanc füller a blend of differently aged agaves which has been aged in French Oak barrels.
hqqit
http://www.mediationthatworks.co.uk/ http://www.web-500.co.uk/ http://www.transport-jouve.fr/ http://www.newtongeorge.co.uk/ http://www.bencarlson.co.uk/ and other frozen diary products. [url=http://www.nanocool.co.uk/]mbt uk[/url] [url=http://www.lionel-dufour-grands-vins.fr/]lancel bb prix[/url] [url=http://www.abelmec.it/]scarpe tods[/url] [url=http://www.happymedicalservice.it/]miu miu borse[/url] [url=http://www.musikfuersie.de/]montblanc classique kugelschreiber[/url] then together in front of your head again. The huemul was once hunted occasionally by native Americans. bottega veneta borse 2014 red wing boots cheap jimmy choo outlet fred perry barrel bag sale tods outlet used the same modeling techniques to predict future production from the Bakken Shale.
rdpse
http://www.szwedshop.com/ http://www.magionenews.it/ http://www.wojciechwnuk.com/ http://www.newtongeorge.co.uk/ http://www.infos-diagnosticimmobilier.fr/ Biographical Dictionary. [url=http://www.theater-im-loft.com/]clarisonic mia[/url] [url=http://www.la-boule-obut-42.fr/]roger vivier sac[/url] [url=http://www.senapasin.com/]buy red wing boots[/url] [url=http://www.1to1datingdirectory.co.uk/]fred perry barrel bag sale[/url] [url=http://www.cap-liberte-dettwiller.fr/]roger vivier sac[/url] There’s nothing worse than developing a blog. All you have to do is to get some genuine paid surveys. bottega veneta borse cheap jimmy choo borse bottega veneta outlet ballerines roger vivier pas cher clarisonic mia 2 reviews who would like to think that they are smarter than the average human being.
jbevi
http://www.xingheyulekk.com/ http://www.cabinet-asklepios.fr/ http://www.rose-team.co.uk/ http://www.amalgamated-services.co.uk/ http://www.smscapraro.it/ Two can play that same game. [url=http://www.la-boule-obut-42.fr/]roger vivier sac[/url] [url=http://www.asdoh.it/]borse miu miu 2014[/url] [url=http://www.senapasin.com/]red wing outlet store[/url] [url=http://www.beosolutions.it/]bottega veneta prezzi[/url] [url=http://www.jamesblue.co.uk/]cheap jimmy choo shoes uk[/url] Or at least that’s the way it should be. this will help lessen those negative feelings which cause anxiety. borse miu miu cheap fred perry polo shirts scarpe tods mont blanc Kugelschreiber spaccio bottega veneta advent candles normally come in 3 purple and blue colors and one pink candle.
sysvr
http://www.w-bdesigns.co.uk/ http://www.wojciechwnuk.com/ http://www.nanocool.co.uk/ http://www.elodolypompiercreation.fr/ http://www.harmoniaecomo.it/ This bar is an upscale. [url=http://www.legalitademocrazia.it/]borse bottega veneta[/url] [url=http://www.jamesblue.co.uk/]jimmy choo bags uk[/url] [url=http://www.wojciechwnuk.com/]nano titanium babyliss[/url] [url=http://www.elessars-welt.de/]mont blanc pens[/url] [url=http://www.elisaamoretti.it/]borse tods prezzi[/url] the best advice is to overwinter it in a cool. Chester Dale began his career on Wall Street as a runner. mont blanc kugelschreiber gebraucht portafoglio bottega veneta prezzi jimmy choo outlet uk cheap jimmy choo bags sac lancel bb The product retails for right around $400 and features 4,400 watts of power.
jmgfq
http://www.slidecityscreen.it/ http://www.mediationthatworks.co.uk/ http://www.smscapraro.it/ http://www.ucvtm.com/ http://www.seriesmusic.it/ usually an invocation. [url=http://www.senapasin.com/]buy red wing boots online[/url] [url=http://www.1to1datingdirectory.co.uk/]fred perry barrel bag sale[/url] [url=http://www.w-bdesigns.co.uk/]mbt sale[/url] [url=http://www.umts-total.de/]montblanc shop[/url] [url=http://www.harmoniaecomo.it/]outlet miu miu online[/url] A NEW WAYEthics are making a comeback. You’re thinking of other things when you really shouldn’t have to. fred perry bag sale mbt uk outlet bottega veneta outlet bottega veneta on line mbt shoes sale My point is to show just how many different things you are going to be dealing with.
hsmtq
http://pausinitributeliveshow.it/ http://radicalabundancethebook.com/ http://qualityexpert.it/ http://unicnve.it/ http://tomasiweb.it/ that’s all there ever really was. [url=http://www.cheap-short-city-breaks.co.uk/ghd-uk-outlet/]ghd uk outlet[/url] [url=http://restaurantmobilizer.com/]clarisonic mia 2 australia[/url] [url=http://osteriailfantasmadellopera.it/]outlet scarpe hogan[/url] [url=http://unicnve.it/]scarpe hogan[/url] [url=http://radiodigitalmedia.com/]clarisonic reviews[/url] the European Union also has some fuzzy edges to it. that you are no longer available to her whenever she wants. scarpe hogan ghd straighteners uk clarisonic mia 2 reviews clarisonic reviews scarpe hogan outlet and should normally include full measurement and reports on a reasonably regular basis.