BajaNomad

Hummingbird production facility

Whale-ista - 3-13-2016 at 10:41 PM

I've admired many of the high quality, crystal clear hummingbird photos taken by Baja photographers on Nomad. They are amazing birds, and I love seeing them while traveling.

While I don't have the same quality equipment to capture clear images of them in flight, feeding etc., I have had the chance to see them under very different circumstances in recent years.

Since 2011, I've had hummingbirds build nests outside my bedroom doorway in San Diego. Last year only 2 chicks were produced. The record was 2014, when 6 chicks showed up, in 3 separate "batches" from January to June.

Here are the latest two. They are 12 days old- practically teenagers in hummingbird development!

In another week they will be testing their wings and ready for lift off. Then, if all goes well, mom might start the process again.

So, while I haven't been able to return this spring, to see baby whales growing quickly in the lagoons, it's been fun to watch these hummingbirds develop at record clip.

Enjoy!





Mom is very attentive. I'm taking this photo thru a window with a screen, so it's not very clear- but you get the idea:



ehall - 3-14-2016 at 12:01 PM

That's cool. Never seen a hummingbird nest.

BajaBlanca - 3-14-2016 at 02:53 PM

nature at her best!

Bajahowodd - 3-14-2016 at 04:51 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ehall  
That's cool. Never seen a hummingbird nest.


Me too. So impressive. At home some of those little guys come to within a foot or so of my face, which just makes my say.

Whale-ista - 3-14-2016 at 05:31 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ehall  
That's cool. Never seen a hummingbird nest.


They are brilliantly camouflaged- you can look right at one and not see it at times.

I spend a lot of time in my garden, and have developed a good sense of when a bird is nesting from observing her behavior.

Whale-ista - 3-14-2016 at 05:35 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bajahowodd  
Quote: Originally posted by ehall  
That's cool. Never seen a hummingbird nest.


Me too. So impressive. At home some of those little guys come to within a foot or so of my face, which just makes my say.


Yes, they are bold and fearless. When the chicks first emerge from the shells (about the size of jellybeans) the mom will not let me leave thru the doorway- she gets in my face, and makes sure I'm not a danger. Even when I sit on the patio nearby she will buzz over to keep an eye on me.

Now, with the chicks on week 2, she's more relaxed. I still get buzzed, but not so aggressively. (Apparently I passed the threat test.)

Whale-ista - 3-14-2016 at 05:48 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca  
nature at her best!


Yes...I love these little guys- makes my day to peek out and see them in the morning.

woody with a view - 3-14-2016 at 06:14 PM

COOL. it seems our resident male has been replaced by a new guy with a totally different song. the old guy has been guarding my feeder for about 4 years. kinda sad but life rolls on. I've gotta start looking in my trees. last two nest built last year were abandoned.

Whale-ista - 3-14-2016 at 06:42 PM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view  
COOL. it seems our resident male has been replaced by a new guy with a totally different song. the old guy has been guarding my feeder for about 4 years. kinda sad but life rolls on. I've gotta start looking in my trees. last two nest built last year were abandoned.


They are territorial! I'm not sure what the lifespan is for these little birds, but this seems to be the same mom who has been nesting outside my bedroom for the last 3 years.

crash landings...

Whale-ista - 3-14-2016 at 06:52 PM

Not every first flight is a success. This little one crash landed twice, and I replaced her in the nest each time I was able to find her. Mom kept feeding her, and encouraging her to depart and follow her older sibling.



Finding her in the garden was easy. Fortunately, the chicks make a distinct, hi-pitched "peeeeep" at this stage, sort of a sonar location ping that moms can use to locate them when they get lost.

I hope she made it on the 3rd try...

And here's mom, building a second nest, this one under the patio in a night blooming cereus:


[Edited on 3-15-2016 by Whale-ista]

gringorio - 3-14-2016 at 09:36 PM

so cool! thanks for the great photos! hummingbirds are the best ...

Hummingbird Producion Facility

durrelllrobert - 3-15-2016 at 09:08 AM

This is the Hummingbird production faciity in Racine, WI where my hummingbird fishfinder was made:




(sorry for that ):bounce: