I found another hummingbird nest! Part 2

We came from here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/963526/

Here is my update and some pics from Friday, March 20...sorry about the delay in posting:

The babies are incredibly active today, and I think they might fledge this weekend. They are preening their wings a lot, and flapping them around a bit as well. It is really busy on the road, which has made it difficult to take pics (HOA garden maintenance crew, sprinkler repairman, cars driving in and out with me standing in the middle of the road, people opening and closing their garages etc). I met a bunch of neighbors over the past few days which has been great, and the sprinkler repairman was super excited when I pointed out the babies.

Mom kept trying to feed the babies, and then a car or person would come by and I had to move, which scared her off. She got really close to the babies several times before being scared off, and after this happened I decided to leave so she could feed the babies in peace. She seems to tolerate my presence during feeding time, but not when I have to move around…and I was concerned that the babies weren’t going to get fed on schedule. I also didn’t climb up into the ivy close to the nest, as I don’t want to scare the babies out of the nest.

They are sitting so much higher in the nest!

Some preening:

Another "Touche" moment (per Shelley :-))

since when are tongues a part of sword fighting? ;-)

Baby sticking out tongue, in anticipation of mom landing:

"Feed me!"

I left after the "feed me" shot, as I had to get out of the middle of the street for a car to pass, and that scared the mom off. I wanted to make sure the babies got fed on time. Here is mom getting ready to feed the babies later in that afternoon:

"we're hungry"

"that's more like it!"

Great photos, Sunny! You're really getting a good look at this part of their life cycle, and so are we. :-)

Thanks! I hope I'm not posting too many...I'm just a tad enthusiastic about this. LOL

Here is my first update from yesterday, March 21:

"Feed me" (are you surprised? ;-))

"Feed me too!"

In comes mama...

clearest feeding shot:

I came back a little later, and one was perched on the top of the nest!

Oh, boy, and the next step is....

preening...or something

LOL I didn't see your post before I sent that last one...the nest step was "preening or something," I suppose ;-)

This message was edited Mar 22, 2009 9:42 AM

...and then a bit of flapping....

...it's getting windy out there...

It started to rain a bit so I went inside. When I checked the next time, they were both sitting on top of the nest!

"Get out of my way, I'm stretching my wings!"

flap, flap, flap

...now it's time for a good preening...

If you've wondered how the poop gets all the way onto the tree trunk, this is the pic for you:

time for a snack please...

"thanks, Mom"

Oops, the "If you've wondered how the poop gets all the way onto the tree trunk, this is the pic for you" shot is obviously the wrong one...here is the one I meant to post:

I was just anticipating the jump off!

a pic of the cute little fuzz-butt

me too, Kaper!

closer pic of fuzz-butt:

A very close call (I think there was a bit of a balance issue involved here)

Sunny, these are great pics. Can you see the nest at all from your house? Did you say you have to stand in the road to get those great shots? no wonder you comment on "people thinking I'm crazy" What a hoot. I sure hope you get to see them fledge. I hope they fledge to your side of the fence and do their flying lessons there too. I am soo very glad she built another nest so close and that you found her again. I have no doubt at all that this is the same one as the 1st nest. Exciting stuff!!

Any time now...this is exciting.

The pics above were taken yesterday - I was out there numerous times, and a friend had to pry me away in the early evening as I had dinner plans. LOL. I'm downloading some pics from this morning right now, and as of a few minutes ago they were still in the nest. It's cold, windy, and there are random rain showers, so that might be slowing down the process.

My neighbors just caught me in front of their house in the middle of the road again...oops (yes, this is why they think I'm crazy ;-)). I can't see the nest, or even the tree from my house. It was a total fluke that I found it. It's out on the street on part of the HOA property. I think the mom who lost her eggs before is the one who built the nest in the oleander bush right on the other side of the fence, but who knows. The nest in the tree is in a different area not as close to my house...but I'm sure hoping they'll come on down to the "salvia cafe" in my yard :-). Can you tell me about the flying lessons? I'd love to see them around after they fledge :-)

Never seen hummers fledge, just finches. They would take short hops at first to a nearby branch (they would nest in my hanging pots!), gradually getting more bold. Mom would often be around yelling at them to get a move on, it seemed.

Very neat! It was sunny a few minutes ago, but now it's clouded over and started to rain again. It's very windy as well, and I wonder if that will play a part in their fledge? One baby was out of the nest this morning, but sitting right next to it...see pic below:

Isn't nature grand? :-)

Oh yeah..I am hooked! Here is mom coming in for a feeding...

down the hatch...