Finally, the Hummingbirds
Yes, I did promise long ago to post these photos after the birds had gone (thereby ensuring I wasn’t jinxing their ability to do so). As you know, one baby hummer didn’t make it. The other, though, did. The nest has been empty for a couple weeks. Mom is gone, too. I’m sure she’s around somewhere, it’s just not…here.
Anyhow, without further ado, the nest.
We’ll start with the first fuzzy shot because it’s mom and the babies and it’s feeding time. It sucks, but it serves a purpose.
Of course, we have to see where the nest is. It’s on the leg of the carport. It’s about 6 feet up, which is hard to see from the ground (and why I missed it the first time), but was at the perfect height for us to spy on from the den window.
And now we see (with some clarity) what all the fuss is about.
Birds. Because that’s what this is all about. That and my not-so-excellent spy skills. Seriously, shooting through the blinds is hard, y’all.
And here is the shot from just below the nest. I actually went outside to get this one and got yelled at by the neighbor. She was afraid I was going to disrupt the birds’ lives with my big ol’ camera, my big ol’ lens, and my big ol’ self. First, the birds didn’t see me, I don’t think. Second, mom wasn’t around. Third, it wasn’t like I was trying to touch them (I wasn’t; I wouldn’t). Fourth, the “glare” the neighbor was (supposedly) worried about was non-existent (from the lens, but in full stink-eye mode from BEHIND the camera). Fifth, she made more noise and was more intrusive with her yammering than I was with my camera and my quiet self. Some people just have to be in charge of everything, I guess. Too bad she wasn’t around to save the one bird from its “help, I’m being eaten by a stray cat” fate.
While I had intended to include a photo of the lone survivor, I decided against it. It makes me too sad to look at that shot and see just the one, all alone in the nest. Yes, I understand that nature has its own rules and part of letting nature take its course means sometimes bad things happen and I shouldn’t get all upset about it. BUT I CAN’T HELP IT! So, it turns out one of my own weird rules is to go with my gut and not post an image that makes me sad and blah blah blah.
Was it worth your wait? Probably not. But, really, it kind of was just to see a nest of baby hummingbirds, right?
How cute and totally worth the wait!! I understand about not photographing the singleton alone…
Comment by pam — 2014/07/15 @ 12:20
Love the pictures!!
Comment by Karen — 2014/07/15 @ 18:56
I did photograph it alone, I just couldn’t edit it. Even after it flew off, I felt it was just courting trouble to touch the image. I’m weird that way.
Comment by Da Goddess — 2014/07/16 @ 03:19
Yay! Baby hummers! I have them buzz through my yard, but unfortunately I don’t know where the nest is.
Comment by Jan — 2014/07/16 @ 06:00
This is the first hummingbird nest I’ve seen, so it was very exciting for me. Hope you get to see one soon, too!
Comment by Da Goddess — 2014/07/16 @ 15:23
Here’s one in my back yard:
http://youtu.be/oB6zprqtyzQ
And on the patio:
http://youtu.be/lg9UaO78gMk
Comment by Jan — 2014/07/22 @ 06:34
Oh, just stop, Jan! Really! Your yard is fantastic! Can’t you be awful at just one thing? PLEASE! Pretty please.
Comment by Da Goddess — 2014/07/22 @ 21:15
I am awful at a great many things, I assure you! (Like housecleaning for example, absolutely terrible at that…) My backyard is my sanctuary, so I’ve worked rather hard at it It’s a weedy mess right now, but like it a little on the wild side.
Comment by Jan — 2014/07/23 @ 05:55
I don’t believe you.
Comment by Da Goddess — 2014/07/23 @ 18:15