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Hummingbirds
2005 |
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Hummingbirds
2005 |
January 21. We discover one egg in the old hummingbird nest outside our front door. |
January 23. A second egg has appeared. |
The mother bird sits on her nest. |
She has worked hard to build up the shallow sides of the nest. |
February 2. The eggs are buried deep inside the more substantial nest. |
February 7. The first egg has hatched! |
February 8. Now there are two. |
February 9. Feed me!!
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February 10. Two wiggly fuzzballs. |
February 11. |
February 12. A baby rests its beak on the rim of the nest, and then...
...everybody thinks the jostling of the camera against the branch means lunch is here! |
February 13. MO-O-O-O-OOOMMMMMM!!!!!! |
February 14. One week old! Look at that eye!! |
February 15. Fuzz and Buzz sleep it off. |
February 16. It's time for a little reorganization ...
Fuzz: Is it me, or is this place shrinking? Buzz: Beats me, but I think there's more room over there ...
Fuzz: Hey! Watch that beak!
Buzz: There! That's better!
Aaaaah! |
February 17. Eyes wide open. |
February 18. Getting fuzzier and buzzier. |
February 19. Rain rain go away ... |
February 20. ... come again some other day ...
... on second thought -- enough already with the rain. |
February 21. Two weeks old! A brief brightening of the sky offers a glimpse of emerging green feathers!
Buzz: You think our beaks are getting longer? Fuzz: Why not try closing yours for a change and see. |
February 22. More green feathers ...
... and a neat row of wing feathers peek out over the rim of the nest!! |
February 23. Wing feathers all around. |
February 24. Looking more and more like regular birds!!
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February 25. You lookin' at me?
Be sure you get my good side! ...
... especially my distinguished profile. |
February 26. |
February 27.
Getting tighter and tighter!! |
February 28. Three weeks old!
Buzz: When are we gonna bust out of this joint?
Fuzz: Any day now, if you don't start counting your carbs.
Blending in. |
March 1. Mother bird checks on things from a safe distance.
Buzz and Fuzz continue to plan their escape from their increasingly teeny nest.
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March 2. Launch day.
Buzz: I think I've finally figured out how this system works ...
Fuzz: Hey! How did you do that??!!!
Fuzz: Woo hoooooooo!!! ... Icanfly!Icanfly!!Icanfly!!!Icanfly!!!!! ...
... so THAT'S what these things are for!
Now, if I flap my wings reeeeeaaaallly fast, can I let ... go ... of ... the ... twig?? ...
... Too scary! I think I'll just hang on here for a nano-second.
Hahahahahaaaaaaa!!! Can you find me now?
... the empty nest.
A sense of scale. |
March 4. Buzz: Hey! You with the camera! It's me -- Fuzz, er Buzz -- whatever ...
... hold on ... gotta take time out for a quick snack ...
Yummmm! Thanks, Mom!
Now ... watch what I can do!
Yeeeehaaaaaaaaaaa!! |
If you'd like to see some really terrific photographs of a mother hummingbird raising her chick, visit Don Kaiser's website: http://www.warwingsart.com/Hummingbirds/2005/2005bhummers01.html |
