Hummingbird pictures

We have a hummingbird making a nest in one of our back trees and thought I would share them. It is fascinating to watch the stages and am going to try take pictures from the eggs to when the birds leave. Last year some birds did the same thing and here is a gallery of pictures that I took then: http://www.dandfent.com/hummingbird_gallery/index.html
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Nice pictures. I enjoy watching them too, and try to keep nectar out during the season. I've always thought that we might be shocked at their language as they battle for control of the flower plot or nectar bottle.

 

Of course you like watching hummingbirds, you're a cat. j/k

Very cool. In all my dog-years, I've never seen a hummingbird nest. Sad, really. Can you illuminate me/us with how they go about it (nesting, get your mind out of the gutter), so I/we don't have to read some drab Jane Hathaway, bird-watcher commentary elsewhere on the www?

 

Cool pictures. What kind of tree is that? What camera was it shot with?

 

That's pretty cool. Here is some info if you're interested: Incubation is about 16-18 days with another 21 of brooding.

http://www.rubythroat.org/RTHUFactsMain.html

 

I believe it is a Melaleuca tree. I have a Nikon D70. The pictues on the gallery page were shot with an Olympus C-2100UZ.

Gilles27 Thanks for the link, very informative. wax I did not realy know how they went about nesting and stuff, that page answers our questions in a simple way.

 

Hummingbirds are cool. A neighbor hand a nest in his tree about three years ago. We have quite a few humming birds in our neighbor hood. They are MEAN little bastrads, Very territorial. I have been buzzed a few times when the males are chasing one another around in air combat. Scares the crap out of you because they get so close to your head. What cracks me up is when a male is trying to impress a female. They will fly way up in the air and then dive straight down with their wings fully tucked. Then right before they slam into the ground they will fly up into the air again and dive back down. They do this over and over again, looks like a giant U, until the female gets board a leaves, or gives up the goods, LOL.

 

HB's freeking rock!!!

An amazing testiment to evolution!!!!!!


(They are cute too!!)

 

She is sitting on the eggs most of the day. I notice she is still building up the nest. I have two feeders in my yard and I see a male around one, with her around the other. Wonder if they are a couple I am going to guess that it will be about two or so weeks before the eggs hatch since it is pretty cool right now.
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great thread, GREAT PICS!

 

Post the pictures of the chicks when they hatch.

 

I look every day.

She is still making the nest bigger.
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1st egg hatched. Hummingbirds make some tough nest. The last few weeks we have had some stong wind and heavy rain, and so far the nest is fine.
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Love this thread, thanks

 

Agree, this thread is great!

What kind of camera and lens are you using to get those close up shots??

 

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

Here are a few I have taken from one the windows in our house. With reflective glass and a feeder right next to the window we are able to get a very up close and personal view of the hummingbirds drinking. So much fun to watch!
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I am using a Nikon D70 with a 28-200mm. Most of the shots are at 200mm.

I went out this afternoon to see if the 2nd egg hatched yet (it didn't) and noticed that the shells from the 1st were gone and the baby was starting to stretch out.

The mom is sitting more on the nest, and I think it will start to be a tight fit once the 2nd hatches and they start to grow.

Hummingbirds are fun to watch and I think a wonder of nature. Here in SoCal they seem to be around all year long. When I had 5 feeders in our yard I counted 14 birds at once. It seems like there is always one bird trys to controls a feeder, and fights off all others. One time I stood next to a feeder and held my finger under it, and one landed on my finger and feed.
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Very Cool photos

 

I'm loving this thread. You've got some great photos--hopefully the birds will continue to nest there.

 

Went out this morning to see if the 2nd egg hatched, and it did
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Hey that's way cool. I have never seen a baby hummingbird. It will be interesting to see how fast they grow. What I think would be way cool, is if you could see them take their first flight. I wonder if they practice, kinda like eagles or hawks, or if they just all of a sudden fly. Any way I think it would be cool to see them buzz around for the first time. Great thread keep the pictures coming.

 

Went out today to look and noticed one of the babies turned and they are getting darker. When the mom returned she feed both of them. You can see the yellow beak in th picture. Just hope with the chance of rain in the next few days there are on problems with them.
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I like these little guys too. When I was little, my father and I used to sit outside in red shirts with yellow construction paper dots on them by the feeder. The HB's would come right up to your face and shirt. It was pretty cool. This was taken over the summer.

Craig
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Both babies are growing. The mom is stating to have to feed them more often.
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Nice pics! I've never seen a baby hummingbird, either...

On another note, I saw a picture (a series of pics, actually) of a praying mantis catching a humming bird in mid-air. Pretty nuts - those bugs are crazy...