Some of you may remember Robin Watch ’08 and it’s unfortunate end. I’ve always had a fondness for birds. There’s something so delicate and wild about them and it’s softly thrilling when I see a bird up close.
Last week I noticed a hummingbird flying around the tree just outside our front door. When I would open the front door it would fly right up to the screen door and look at me. A neighbor came to the door and after she got buzzed by the hummingbird she suggested that maybe it had a nest in the tree. I looked and looked but couldn’t find anything for a long time. But then I saw this:
The nest is TINY, smaller than an egg. I read online that hummingbirds make their nests out of moss, plant fibers, and spider webs. In the photo you can see the spider webs covering the outside of the nest. The webs remind me of the story of Thumbelina – I like to picture the hummingbird going to the spiders and bartering for some spider silk (because I’m a nerd like that). More likely than not the hummingbird probably just ate the spiders and then tore away their webs.
The nest is surprisingly close to our front door. Can you see it in the photo below?
I did some online research on hummingbirds and bought a hummingbird feeder and set it up outside. (Hummingbird PSA: apparently if you have a hummingbird feeder you shouldn’t add red dye to the food and you should clean and refill the feeder at least once a week.) I haven’t noticed the hummingbird using the feeder yet, but if she starts using it hopefully I can get some more pictures.
I loved Robin Watch 08 (I love pictures of little birds on their nests) and I have high hopes that this one will turn out better! That is one amazing picture you got, Faith. I’ve never seen a hummingbird nest before. How long did you have to stand there before she actually sat down on her nest? Is their a Mr. Hummingbird?
I think that she has gotten pretty used to me peeping at her from the front door and so it doesn’t seem to bother her a lot. I try not to go out on the porch that often, though. I looked online and apparently Mr. Hummingbird is now out of the picture and so Ms. Hummingbird has to bravely soldier as a single mom.