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Perennials Hostas

Hummingbird Baby

last year

This little boy (see his tiny 1 little red feather) was being chased and ran into the side of the house. He knocked himself out but after a few minutes he squeaked, wiggled and flew away when I opened my hand. We sit on the porch and watch them every night right before sunset and tonight we had 17 coming to 6 feeders that are out in the garden and under the eaves of the porch. Even though the feeders are spread out they still fight over them. It's a miracle any of them make it to adulthood.

This is the 3rd time I have held a hummingbird. They are so tiny and weigh next to nothing. I have had them fly into the garage and not be able to figure out how to get out. One flew into a 3rd grade classroom and they called me to catch it and release--I was the nurse and animal wrangler removing mice and baby rat snakes. Each child in the room got to touch him with their pinky. No matter how old they got they always remembered that incident.

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Comments (14)

nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
last year
last modified: last year
I've never touched a hummingbird..what a special experience ❤..

so glad you were there to help him..

no touching involved but an owl sighting from my kitchen window was special..
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
last year
That is so cool! Makes me want to get a hummingbird feeder!
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Would someone like to correct this person?
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Comments (2)
He was mistaken, but that's not an unforgivable offense. Like it or not, fewer than half of hummingbirds hatched survive their first year so his actions had no effect on the overall population. I see that at least one person has already corrected him regarding the dietary requirements of hatchlings. Ryan
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Comments (1)
It is a cool video. The thing that touches my heart the very most is that a male of this age has such a heart for nature. Too sweet for words.
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Baby Hummingbird Hatched Yesterday
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Comments (8)
-O- Haven't seen her feed them, yet. I will ask my MIL to keep me posted when she sees the mother feed the babies. We live close enough to bike over to her house each day and check on the progress of these adorable birds. If I lived at her home, I would sit on her couch all day just looking out the window at this site : ) I hope we can get a feeding picture. We would likely have to capture that photo from inside the house (behind the glass window). -Laurie
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Anyone w/ Baby Bird & Nest exp?:
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Comments (16)
ttodd, Spectacular close-up shots....simply amazing! amysrq, Isn't it wonderful? As many times as I've watched it, I never get tired of it. Nature's wonders. goldgirl, There have been a few times I've sat down to watch my Hummer visitors, only to notice a couple hours later how quickly time had gone by and I hadn't accomplished a darn thing. Watching those little jewels becomes addictive....be careful! :) Mine have gotten so used to me being outside working the gardens, they don't even flinch when I walk by. In fact, a few actually follow me around and some actually look right at the camera when I'm ready to take the shot. Addictive, I tell ya. In a goooood way. :) For all the Hummer Juicy I make, I need to take out stock in C & H Pure Cane Sugar. Coming in for a Landing. I'm changing the plants in an old iron bird cage and my visitor sits on the bird cage door, watching what I'm doing. This guy just kept fluttering in front of me, checking out the thing in my hand....my camera. Lunch Bell for the Newbies. I added color to the Juicy so they would see it. After they learn where it's at, I no longer add the color. I'm stringing some Morning Glory in through Chix Wire of a homemade topiary. This little Jewel stuck by me all day so I called him "My Groupie".
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frankielynnsie
Original Author
last year
He is really big and beautiful. What kind is he? There is a pair of barred owls in the woods across the road but I just hear them and have never seen them.
functionthenlook
last year
What a cool experience.
nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
last year
last modified: last year
it's a barred owl..🦉

I heard them today..didn't bother to look..close but I think they were in the neighbor's yard not mine..
frankielynnsie
Original Author
last year
The pictures seem darker gray but I've never seen ours. They return every year.
nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
last year
the owls were here when we moved in March 05..I've read they mate for life and use the same nests for years..there's a nest in the neighbor's yard behind me..here's one in my Amur maple..
bkay2000
last year
last modified: last year
Thanks for sharing.

bkay
schoolhouse_gwagain
last year
I'm so glad the little hummer was okay.
djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
Oh, I love the baby hummer!! Thanks for sharing! Nicholsworth, I also really love your owls, my favs are Snowy Owls……

debra
mxk3 z5b_MI
last year
What a cutie that little hummer is! Very fortunate for him you were there to rescue him. What a special feeling that must be to hold one in your hand :0)
rosaprimula
last year
Aw bless!

Hummingbird envy...our hummingbird hawkmoths just don't cut the mustard...although we had bee eaters breeding in the UK this year - fabulous birds.
cecily 7A
last year
Frankielynnsie where are you located? My local hummers have departed - you may be feeding them and thank you if you are.
frankielynnsie
Original Author
last year
I am in NW Georgia and we are getting passing visitors from the north. Today there were 10 and yesterday there was 13, the day before 17. I am feeding a little weaker sugar water because I want them to move along. I do still have perennial begonias, impatiens, Mexican petunias, butterfly bush, water hyacinth, okra, and balsam blooming. They really enjoyed the pink flowers of the Cherokee Black beans this year. We have done a lot of flinching and ducking in the garden.

The new ones only stay a day or so. I can tell they aren't use to the feeders because the newer ones try to feed off the top of the feeder which is red (not the best planned out color) and they go to the sunflower seed feeder in the front yard--I wish it wasn't red because it confuses them. They fly up and sit on the perch and look for nectar then other bigger birds join them and scare them off. So far the bigger birds don't try to hurt them.

I think the ones that have been there a few days teach the new ones where the feeders are and what they are for.

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