March 11, 2009
Hummingbird tales: Call them Orville and Wilbur
By yesterday afternoon the chicks were about three weeks old, looking like only slightly-smaller versions of their mother. They'd gotten so large they could barely fit in the nest. (Click on image for full-size version)
The chick in the background -- let's call him Wilbur -- was restless, more alert and mobile than his sibling, Orville, constantly shifting around in the nest. (Click on image for full-size version)
Suddenly, Wilbur spread his wings and gave them a try, flapping them rapidly for a few seconds, rising up out of the nest and hovering for a moment, catching both me and Orville by surprise. It was 5:56 p.m. when Wilbur first took wing. (Click on image for full-size version)
Orville, not quite yet ready to stretch his wings, turned around to get a better look at his more adventuresome relative, who quickly took another test flight. (Click on image for full-size version)
Wilbur hovered just outside the nest, rising and falling, shifting from side to side. (Click on image for full-size version)
After about 10 seconds, Wilbur came in on final approach for landing, suspended just above Orville, his rapidly beating wings fanning the air. (Click on image for full-size version)
Back in the nest, Wilbur seemed to pause, perhaps catching his breath, or waiting to file a flight plan. (Click on image for full-size version)
He rested next to Orville for a few minutes, stretching his wings ... (Click on image for full-size version)
Briefly laid one wing across Orville's shoulders (hummingbirds have shoulders, so lay off, will ya?) ... (Click on image for full-size version)
And then Wilbur was gone, at 5:58 p.m., two minutes after he soloed. I heard his thrumming wingbeats fade away into silence, and then it was just me and Orville. He looked around, but his sibling had flown the coop; a return didn't seem to be in the cards. (Click on image for full-size version)
The mother arrived about five minutes later, clearly bothered by the absence of one chick. She spent a long time sitting about the nest, seemingly taking it all in, perhaps looking for lurking predators (aside from the guy with the camera). (Click on image for full-size version)
Finally satisfied that nothing was waiting to eat her, she fed her remaining chick. (Click on image for full-size version)
Posted by Mike Lief at March 11, 2009 06:07 AM
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Comments
You cried a little, didn't you?
Posted by: The Little Coach at March 11, 2009 09:15 AM
Great photos and a great story. Thanks, Mike.
Posted by: ecmarm at March 11, 2009 06:44 PM
Great photos and a great story. Thanks, Mike.
Posted by: ecmarm at March 11, 2009 06:44 PM
This whole hummingbird saga was great. In southern AZ where I live, we have lots of hummingbirds, but the nests are rarely seen. Thanks for sharing this.
Posted by: PatAZ at March 14, 2009 08:04 PM