I found a flat feeder at Tractor Supply a week or so ago that is about the same as the Hummzinger I have. I bought it and saved shipping. It has the ant moat and opens up for cleaning, etc.
I found another hummingbird nest!!!
yes, that likely is the same momma. timing & all since the sad loss of the other eggs would be right for her to have these now at this stage.
I'd hate to think of that "angry" man destroying the nest because others enjoyed it....some people do tings like that. But I do think doing something nice like a sm pot of flowers and a smile might really change his day and attitude We just never know what other people have been thru & what molds them. Very often, just a kind gesture can turn a situation way around.
Hugs & prayers for a great outcome,
Sheri
I also decided to get the flat feeder, because cleaning out those other ones is such a drag due to the tiny bottle necks. I'd sure love to see orioles as well...that would be a wonderful bonus! LOL at 'Bumpy.' I never used to see differences in hummingbirds, but the more I see oleander bush mama, the more I think she is the same one, and Sheri, you're right the timing is perfect as well. I was just out in my garden taking flower pics near the fence/oleander bush, and she came over the fence and buzzed me for a bit. Perhaps she was on her way to get a drink in the front area, spotted me in the backyard, and thought she might try and poop on me. LOL. Actually, she was probably heading for the little patch of salvia I was photographing at the time (planted just for the hummers :-)).
I am hoping simply not to run into the man next door throughout this whole nest spying experience (I think he works during the day anyhow). But if I do, I plan on being very friendly and just hoping for the best. I have now met the neighbors who live directly across from the hummingbird nest in the tree. I figured I might appear a bit strange up in the ivy taking pics in the general direction of their house, so I had better explain what I was doing.
Here is a pic of some current hummingbird menu offerings...
I went and checked on the nest in the tree a bit earlier, and the nest is getting a bit crowded! I haven't seen mom around today, but when I finish recharging my camera's batteries I'll take another stroll out and see what's happening.
Here is a pic of the overcrowding situation that's starting to develop - wings and beaks everywhere :-)
how cool is that... thanks for sharing those!
Hey Sunny, I'll be in San Jose on Monday... have a job interview...if you'll be home maybe I'll stop by and visit :o)
I think that's one reason they make their nests so small - so the kids get out faster! LOL
LOL, well it is certainly getting cramped in there. I went out to get the mail, and just happened to bring my camera and walk by the hummingbird tree (you know how it goes ;-)). When I arrived, the birds were pretty active, and fighting for room. I had another close call with hummingbird poop, when one little hummer stuck it's rear end out of the nest and nearly pooped on my head...I guess that is one of the hazards of standing below nests. LOL.
Here is a post-poop shot (tail still hanging over nest). You can see all the poop all over the tree on the left side as well:
Next, mom came in for a feeding, but she must have felt I was too close to the nest, so she perched nearby:
I backed way up, and tried to look disinterested. She came in to feed them…
Yum!
"over here, Mom!"
Mmmmm...good stuff!
Here is mom leaving (big blur). I'm not sure why the colors are so washed out with these photos...I cropped them a bit but didn't change anything else. Oh well, I am so happy to have gotten some feeding pics!
Anjl, I should be home Monday, drop me a dmail :-)
oops, a pics might help...here is mom leaving
I went to check on the nest in the oleander bush next door. When I got near the bush, mom zipped out and flew to the top of a plum tree. I didn't see any action in the nest yet, and left quickly so mom could return to her eggs. Here is a pic of the nest today:
sunny those are soo cool! I bet you were super excited to getthe feeding shots!
Not sure if the appt for Monday is going to pan out or not....but I'll dmail you if it does :oD
More uvly pics. Sunnyg I am a ninja (if you need ninja stealth to sneak around Mr. Grumpy).
So how unpleasant IS this man? Do you think you could knock on the door and let him know what the deal is? Maybe he likes birds?
The nest isn't on his property, so I think I'm just going to enjoy myself and not worry about him. The complex next door is big, and if I see him or anyone else around I will make a point of explaining the situation. How can someone not like baby hummingbirds, right? When I was perched up in the ivy taking pics of the nest in the tree, no one looked at me twice. Perhaps I've got a bit of ninja stealth myself ;-)...or perhaps most people are so caught up in their own lives that they don't care about some lady taking pics of bushes and trees.
I just knew you were a ninja sunnyg ^_^ You go girl!
LOL you know it!
We used to get strange looks when standing out in our own yard taking pics with a long lens camera. Guess by now the neighbors have gotten used to us doing it. LOL!
I've always wondered what their nests look like! How cool. Thanks for sharing all the pics!!
Sunny, great shot of poop!! LOL!
I'd never seen a nest either, beautifulchaos...it's certainly exciting! Sheila and Cissy LOL! I'd love to take these hummingbird nest photos with one of those big paparazzi lenses...can you imagine the shots I could get? Cissy, you know I'm a big fan of adding manure in the garden -- I personally just don't want any on my head hehe ;-).
Here are a couple of morning shots of the babies. I snuck out there first thing in my PJ's (shame on me LOL), but the lighting wasn't right yet. These shots are from a few minutes ago
These guys are getting huge!
Here's a beak, and judging by the posting of the other baby, a tail as well:
Mom comes in for a feeding:
Mmmm...
after a quick look around...
she feeds the next baby...
another quick look....
and back to the first baby...
is she finished?
Yep! Off she goes....
Way Cool!
Here's the 2009 migration map: http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html
The US map is the lower one :~)
come on babies... just go through Maryland!!!!
She's definitely going to be throwing them out soon!
Sunny - I love your little gourmet hummer garden. Now what self respecting longbeaker could resist that, especially with a bird loving head to poo on if lucky ^_^. would that be called a l'il "poo love" to u luv!?! hehehe ^_^ (sorry....just 2 gud 2 resist!!)
Sheri