empty nester

[Nacha]

this winter i saw a humming bird nesting in our backyard. she was sitting on 2 eggs which eventually hatched. i left her alone when they were newly hatched and watched from afar as they grew. after about only 3 weeks they made small flights and returned to the nest. after several more days they were gone and have not returned. i took several photos of the kids shortly prior to their exit flight.




mom patiently waiting...








quick glance into the nest




about 3 weeks old and




1 day before they leave the nest




empty nest several days later. no sign of mom or the kids.

i miss them. they say it takes time to adjust to being an empty nester. maybe they'll stop by for a visit

 

[Boo]

I'm glad to read the follow up - I remember the original post - I was astonished at how good that girl was with colour - perfectly matching her nest to the surroundings and her own plumage. Beautiful work, clever girl. And lovely photos.

I'm delighted that her efforts were rewarded with 2 gorgeous babies - how lovely that you got to see and record them for us. That's cheered me this morning.

 

[ReedW]

Great set of images of one of my favorite creatures, thanks for sharing!

 

[Nacha]

what was most amazing to me was just how fast they grew. from those little eggs , in about 3 weeks, they were 80% the size of the mother

 

[Boo]

what was most amazing to me was just how fast they grew. from those little eggs , in about 3 weeks, they were 80% the size of the mother

It's astonishing isn't it - she must have been providing good nutrition. The smaller an animal is and the shorter it lives, the quicker the babies grow. I was discussing this with my sister yesterday - she has a Miniature Schnauzer puppy and has now had him 8 weeks - he's easily trebled in size in that time. She says she gets him up in a morning and he appears to have grown overnight. He uses so much energy being an enthusiastic puppy you wouldn't think he'd have enough left to grow as well.

 

[Pete Berry]

this winter i saw a humming bird nesting in our backyard. she was sitting on 2 eggs which eventually hatched. i left her alone when they were newly hatched and watched from afar as they grew. after about only 3 weeks they made small flights and returned to the nest. after several more days they were gone and have not returned. i took several photos of the kids shortly prior to their exit flight.


mom patiently waiting...


quick glance into the nest


about 3 weeks old and


1 day before they leave the nest


empty nest several days later. no sign of mom or the kids.

i miss them. they say it takes time to adjust to being an empty nester. maybe they'll stop by for a visit

What a beautifully captured Anna's and her chicks!

Below a link to a video from 11 yrs ago of an Anna's feeding her chicks in the nest up in N CA's Arcata Marsh, slowed 50% due to the frantic motion - GH3, through a 480mm apo. spotting scope:

Pete

 

[Nacha]

thanks for the link. very nice video. seems like the same species as my guests. what really gets me is the nests are identical! same material, construction , and decorative theme.

 

[Pete Berry]

thanks for the link. very nice video. seems like the same species as my guests. what really gets me is the nests are identical! same material, construction , and decorative theme.

Anna's hummers are the predominate variety on the entire US W. coast, with the showy Allen's next, I believe.

About an hour S of Silicon Valley is the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum - a wonder of exotic plants and their blooms which hummers find very attractive - mainly Anna's, but occasionally aggressive Allen's, the males with their golden gorget as below. Def. worth the hour's trip up from Monterey!


Pan. GH4 4K trimmed video frame-cap, smart-adapt. Canon 100-400-ii. 3/3/17

Pete