Sunday, August 13, 2006
Hummingbirds again...
This amazing series of photos of hummingbirds was not taken by me. Here's the link and someone named Maggie is to be thanked. Nature is astounding...and magical.
This is the size of the nest...
Newborn
Growing...
Growing...
This is the size of the nest...
Mom on nest
Newborn
Growing...
Growing...
And just about ready to go. Twenty four days from birth to flight.
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Oh my goodness! I have never seen these sorts of pictures of hummers. So very very tiny baby birds in a tiny little bird's nest. It's amazing that they make it to adults.
This series was posted on our homeschool website about a year ago. It's astonishing - and so fast! I guess I should quit complaining about how quickly my kids are growing up; they could be hummingbirds, after all!
We had a robin make its nest right beside our front door, on top of the porch light one summer. It was a bit fraught (for both parties), with all the opening and closing and whatnot, but it was pretty neat to be able to peer into the nest every day and monitor progress.
We had a robin make its nest right beside our front door, on top of the porch light one summer. It was a bit fraught (for both parties), with all the opening and closing and whatnot, but it was pretty neat to be able to peer into the nest every day and monitor progress.
Hey everyone - the link to Mario's hawk site (first comment above) has some very cool photos from Zagreb.
Ian - it is probably cottonwood tree fluff, maybe milkweed. I've seen a nest before and it was as soft and downy as this one - but not artifical cotton wool.
Ian - it is probably cottonwood tree fluff, maybe milkweed. I've seen a nest before and it was as soft and downy as this one - but not artifical cotton wool.
They are gorgeous. I love hummingbirds. Imagine making something so detailed and intricate & making it smaller than a toothpick. It's just more evidence to suport my theory that animals are far more intelligent and detail-oriented than most of us. Nature is amazing.
My parents have about an acre of land, and they have all kinds of bird/squirrel feeders,, and they have many hummingbird feeders. From the time I was a little girl, my mom would clean the hair out of our hair brushes and toss the ball of excess hair outside for the birds to line their nests with. She did the same things if she gave us a haircut, sweeping it out into the yard and I do the same at my house. Once, while walking around my parents property, I saw reddish-blonde strands of hair shining in a nest, and I knew it was my hair that contributed to the warmth and comfort of those baby birds.
Tina, that's such a wonderful story and image. I have enough hair from my haircuts to serve hummingbirds at least :)
These photos just made my day--thank you. BTW, you can also leave out pet hair and the fluff from your dryer--the birds like to use that stuff when it's nesting season, too!
They also like to use thread. Many people who do any type of embroidery save their floss ends & put them out for birds to use when nesting.
Our hummers (the birds not the war vehicles turned soccer cars) are about ready to migrate south (brave little buggers that they are).
Next year, the thread, hair, floss and maybe even dustballs get put out for them.
Thanks for the tips.
Next year, the thread, hair, floss and maybe even dustballs get put out for them.
Thanks for the tips.
I had the privilage of a hummingbird building her nest near my front door and to to see this amazing site too! It was AWESOME! And just by chance I was there when the two little kids took their first flight out of the nest! I will never forget it!
Incredible photos!
Incredible photos!
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