BajaNomad - Hummingbird nest

Hummingbird nest

BMG - 3-3-2009 at 01:38 PM

Linguine and I had some friends over for dinner last night and as the sun set, we moved out to the patio where is was cool and pleasant. We noticed a hummingbird under our old pop-up awning. Looked like it was searching for food but nothing under there. On closer inspection, I found a tiny nest. The hummingbird doesn't seem to be bothered by our presence but we aren't getting closer than a couple of feet when she is sitting on the nest.

ELINVESTIG8R - 3-3-2009 at 01:47 PM

Now that is way cool.

docsmom - 3-3-2009 at 08:08 PM

How fun! Watch the nest carefully. My experience is that the eggs are laid one per day, will hatch within a day of each other and the babies will leave the nest on the same schedule. I can't remember if they hatch in 14 days and leave the nest in 21 days, or vice versa. But whatever, it's fun to watch. Enjoy!!
I haven't found any nests yet in Tucson but there's lots of hummingbird loving going on here and I'm searching the trees every day!

Bob H - 3-3-2009 at 09:30 PM

That's just fantastic.

Here's my hummingbird nest in my avocado tree from 2007.

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=23357#pid2275...

They are amazing birds!

Bob H

Leo - 3-4-2009 at 07:33 AM

How un-natural, but cool
Don't move the awning and keep the lights down at night

oldlady - 3-4-2009 at 07:51 AM

Wonderful pictures, BMG. We have 5 feeders, lots of birds, haven't seen a nest. Maybe, like you, they like to go out to eat.

BirdDog - 3-4-2009 at 09:50 AM

Way Cool. Have lots around here in the summer but never find the nest. Keep us updated. Thanks

BMG - 3-4-2009 at 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Leo
How un-natural, but cool
Don't move the awning and keep the lights down at night

We don't move the awning but I am concerned about wind flapping the cover. It also gets very hot up under the cover. I have a remote temperature sensor in the middle of the awning at the same level the nest is at and it currently reads 109 degrees. We're hoping things work out for her but I don't think she picked the best spot to build her nest.

She doesn't seem to be concerned when we are around. She came up to me this morning and checked me out pretty close from 10" away, then she went back to feeding in the bougainvilleas.

Leo - 3-4-2009 at 10:24 PM

Waow, what a picture, that ast one

BirdDog - 3-5-2009 at 07:22 AM

What kind of humming bird is she? We have ruby throated here.

[Edited on 3-5-2009 by BirdDog]

oldlady - 3-5-2009 at 10:45 AM

There is one type we had frequently in SoCal called "Ana". That would be appropriate for you, BMG, wouldn't it?
The ones over here are bold....coming within just a few inches of my face when I take a feeder down for refill. Fierce and territorial about their feeders, it's like "Top Gun" around here in the mornings and early evenings.

djh - 3-5-2009 at 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BMG

. . . I have a remote temperature sensor in the middle of the awning at the same level the nest is at and it currently reads 109 degrees. We're hoping things work out for her but I don't think she picked the best spot to build her nest.

She doesn't seem to be concerned when we are around. She came up to me this morning and checked me out pretty close from 10" away, then she went back to feeding in the bougainvilleas.

Maybe she's reinforcing some mutual trust :-).

I wonder if the warmth will help in the hatching...? WHEN the eggs hatch, I imagine the heat wil be more of a concern. If you notice distressed hatchlings... I wonder if a little water mist on top of the awning (no water near the nest) would help to disperse some of the solar heat..? I'm no humming bird expert, but I sure love them. We see them feeding on our bouganvillas on our Loreto property, and we also see them feeding on our flowering trees & bushes up in Idaho :-).

BTW Years ago I read about a ornothological research project that tracked hummingbirds that flew trans-atlantic...!! Which according to the physicist consulting on the project was a miracle ~ since the hummers would consume way more energy than their little bodies could carry / provide for such a journey... Can you imagine a tiny humming bird flying across the Atlantic...? Anyone have any more information about that ?

SUCCESS!

BMG - 3-16-2009 at 03:34 PM

One of her eggs hatched this morning!! The other egg has someone banging away inside trying to join the family!!!

Incredible how small everything is. I was lucky to find 1/2 of the egg shell before it blew away.

Bajagypsy - 3-16-2009 at 03:39 PM

That is way cool!

Skipjack Joe - 3-16-2009 at 03:55 PM

Oh, BMG. I see some difficult days ahead for you.

149246_f520.jpg - 38kB

tripledigitken - 3-16-2009 at 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Oh, BMG. I see some difficult days ahead for you.

Igor, ......................now that's funny. :lol:

Ken

BMG - 3-16-2009 at 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipjack Joe

Oh, BMG. I see some difficult days ahead for you.

You don't know the half of it!

That's Linguine's hand.

er....uh....um...ah..., what difficulties?

longlegsinlapaz - 3-16-2009 at 05:11 PM

Hmmmmmm....I'll bet after all the noise Saturday, the added heat wafting up to the nest from that 5-alarm chili sitting below them & all the sugar vapors from a sea of flan, they were sending Morse Code messages between the eggs to hurry up & blow that pop stand! One worked hard to get out & one's still working hard to get out & wait until they find out the flan is gone! :lol:

Good photography, Dad!

shari - 3-16-2009 at 05:34 PM

WOW...LOVE that little guy...so cool you get to see it every day and can watch it grow and learn about life....cant wait to see the new pics of the other one when it's born...I'm waiting on one last chick too to hatch...maybe manana

Bob H - 3-16-2009 at 07:04 PM

BMG, that is just GREAT! You will be very surprised to see how fast they grow up nd leave the nest. After mine flew away the mother came back and totally dismantled the nest. I have not seen any new nests since (that's been a couple of years now).

Great photos!
Bob H

BajaNuts - 3-16-2009 at 09:19 PM

any contingency plans for the heat?

A nest in an artificial "tree" may have more heat than what MommaHummer planned. It happened to some swallows in a nest under our metal roof porch deck. Everyone was doing wonderful until a couple scorcher hot days.

I'm especially concerned since she looks familiar.

see her there on the side?

BMG - 3-16-2009 at 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by docsmom

I can't remember if they hatch in 14 days and leave the nest in 21 days, or vice versa.

Looks like it's the 14 days to hatch and 21 days to mature. It's a relief to see a chick after worrying about the heat under the tarp, but doesn't seem to have hurt anyone.

Looks like she is a good mama. She didn't mind me watching her feed the tiny one. She probably figured I was no threat after enduring the party the other night. (But we did leave the lights off around the ez-up.)

Bob H - 3-19-2009 at 09:33 AM

Bump.... time for an update!
Bob H

Need some advice.

BMG - 3-19-2009 at 09:47 AM

The 2nd egg hasn't hatched yet. I suspect it isn't going to based on docsmom's information about the eggs hatching a day apart.

My question is, should I try to remove the egg from the nest? My thought is to just let it be and let nature take it's course. But part of me says it will build up gases inside over the next couple of weeks and I would not want to see it break and harm the surviving chick.

oldlady - 3-19-2009 at 09:58 AM

If, it doesn't hatch and there is gas build up, is it probable that the egg would crack and release the pressure more gradually than an "explosion"? I'm just guessing to support a reluctance to interfere with the success thus far.

docsmom - 3-19-2009 at 10:06 AM

BMG,
My advise is to leave it alone and let nature take it's course. It's not the first nest with a problem egg or problem baby, the Mama will deal with it in the appropriate manner. These are things we shouldn't interfere with....
Please keep a respectful distance and keep the updates coming. I'm loving them!!!!!
Thanks,
Docsmom

BMG - 3-19-2009 at 09:54 PM

The chick is growing daily. Nothing new with the egg except it seems to have become a pillow.

Big enough already to get his/her head above the rim of the nest (but apparently not his/her butt.) I never realized that baby hummingbirds were the inspiration for sword swallowers.

nancyinpdx - 3-20-2009 at 12:18 AM

¡Que adorable!
Please keep us posted. Thanks

Bob H - 3-20-2009 at 12:24 PM

I agree to let nature take is course on the unhatched egg. When mine hatched, they were only one day apart!

Great updates... keep'm come'n. It's really neat to watch the whole process.

Do you have a feeder nearby, or just natural flowers?

Bob H

BMG - 3-22-2009 at 09:34 PM

Getting bigger every day. And messier.

No feeder. She feeds on the bougainvilleas you can see in the background in some pics.

She's quite used to me now. If I get on the stool to take a picture and she sees me, she comes flying right over and hovers about 8" from my face. She'll feed the chick with me standing only a foot or so away.

Our old shade cover picked last night to rip out. I rigged up some ropes to keep the material from flapping too much and keep the nest shaded. She didn't seem to be bothered even with all this activity going on.

nancyinpdx - 3-23-2009 at 03:16 AM

You're lucky and blessed to have your lil birdies living there. Thanks for loving them so much and taking such good care of them! : )

[Edited on 3-26-2009 by nancyinpdx]

BMG - 3-25-2009 at 12:24 PM

A growing waistline. Runs in the family.

BMG - 3-26-2009 at 11:59 PM

It's amazing how fast the chick is growing.

Here's a video I made of the mama hummingbird feeding her baby.

longlegsinlapaz - 3-27-2009 at 10:32 AM

Awesome!!!

Might I suggest a hummingbird pooper scooper? You got some mighty unhealthy sanitary conditions going on in the nursery, Dad! :rolleyes:

BMG - 3-27-2009 at 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz

Might I suggest a hummingbird pooper scooper?

I checked at the bird store but they are out of stock. Maybe I'll try the shop vac later this afternoon.

vandenberg - 3-27-2009 at 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BMG

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz

Might I suggest a hummingbird pooper scooper?

I checked at the bird store but they are out of stock. Maybe I'll try the shop vac later this afternoon.

Shopvac may stress the little one. I have a snowshovel (shuffle for you comedians) you can borrow. :biggrin:

[Edited on 3-27-2009 by vandenberg]

oldlady - 3-27-2009 at 01:53 PM

You may have the first shovel ready project!

longlegsinlapaz - 3-27-2009 at 02:47 PM

I recommend tweezers (NOT Ana's!!!!!!!!!!!!), stealth & you humming a soothing lullaby throughout the process. :bounce:

Baja Birth

BajaBella - 3-29-2009 at 12:18 AM

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6PZZoDlmVVs/Sc7zBiEFKoI/AAAAAAAAAHc/ul...

New life in San Quintin!

[Edited on 3-29-2009 by BajaBella]

Skipjack Joe - 3-29-2009 at 06:14 AM

Great video BMG.

Reminded me of those circus sword swallowers.

BMG - 3-30-2009 at 11:11 AM

March 29

March 30

BMG - 4-3-2009 at 06:18 PM

Gone 3 days and look what happens. How would 2 chicks have fit in that nest? Mama only comes around at feeding time now. No room at the inn for her to even sleep.

BMG - 4-5-2009 at 08:56 AM

Gone. The chick flew off this morning.

docsmom - 4-5-2009 at 01:12 PM

Good job Papa!

And don't be surprised if you get another nest in exactly the same spot next year. Not sure why but mine tend to nest in the same place over & over.

oldlady - 4-5-2009 at 01:21 PM

Oh, congratulations on a job well done, but how sad that you're an "empty nester".

[Edited on 4-5-2009 by oldlady]

BMG - 4-5-2009 at 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by docsmom
Good job Papa!

And don't be surprised if you get another nest in exactly the same spot next year. Not sure why but mine tend to nest in the same place over & over.

Not sure what we will have up next year. The pop-up awning ripped to shreds a couple of weeks ago when we had some high winds. I strung some ropes to keep the fabric in place without flapping too much and keep the nest shaded.

I'll take down the nest tomorrow if the mama stops coming around. She looked like she was doing some work on the nest today so not sure what's happening.

Quote:

Originally posted by oldlady
Oh, congratulations on a job well done, but how sad that you're an "empty nester".

Easier than getting kids to move out!

It was a fun experience. Hopefully she will build her nest here again next year. Would really like to see 2 chicks in that tiny nest.

Bob H - 4-6-2009 at 09:11 AM

BMG, you might not have to take the nest down. After mine hatched and flew away the mother destroyed the nest herself, never to return.
And, yes, I had two of them crammed in that tiny little nest.
Bob H

David K - 4-6-2009 at 09:14 AM

Cool photos!

Ken Bondy - 4-6-2009 at 11:33 AM

FANTASTIC series BMG!!!!!! Wonderful stuff.

ELINVESTIG8R - 4-6-2009 at 11:36 AM

If that isn't touching then nothing is!

The final photos.

BMG - 4-6-2009 at 09:54 PM

We haven't seen Mama around today. She must have figured her job was done. I removed the nest today. You can see how the cover on our EZ Up is in tatters but it kept the nest shaded.

You can see how tiny the nest was along with the unhatched egg. The egg had dried up and was just a shell. It blew out of the nest and broke on the pavement. It was so fragile, I don't know how the chick kept from breaking it.

The inside of the nest felt like down. Super soft and insulated. I wonder what she used to build it other than some obvious feathers?

The end!