tags: hummingbird nest, birds, ornithology, streaming video
This video was sent to me by a friend who works at National Geographic (and later, by an aviculturist whom I know) and it seems appropriate for today, considering that winter has closed her icy hand around us all. This video is a small glimpse into the lives of two hummingbird chicks, from when they are mere eggs until the moment when they fledge. I am amazed to see how deeply the mother puts her long beak into the chicks' mouths when feeding them -- it seems almost as though she might pierce the bottom of their crops! The music is "Inspiration" by George Winston from his Spring album [3:35]
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The fall soccer season is well underway and the Hummingbirds soccer team is kicking everything in sight. The hummingbirds in these two series of photos are much quicker, considerably smaller and certainly cute.
Female hummingbird, asleep.
Photo by Dylan Maldonado.
tags: Praying Mantis, Preying Mantis,
tags: hummingbird, physics, science,
Fascinating.
Wow, how I wish I could see that myself.
Are they ruby throated hummers? If so, I didn't know the male also fed the babies!
that was truly wonderful...
i wondered the same thing about the beak / chick's crop, too, and wondered also about the size of the nest after 25 days - one would think it was Way Too Small for the two of them, plus mom (for continued incubation / warmth)...
Notice the difference in the beak length from day 30 to day 36.
Nice!
#4: Isn't that cool? That's typical of birds with long or otherwise modified beaks: they typically don't hatch out that way. Almost a metamorphosis. Bit of ontogeny recapitulating phylogeny?
#2: It's San Diego, so I'd guess Anna's.
I'd say Anna's too - and that was SO beautiful. I had no idea that they grew so quickly!
How fortunate for us! Incredible growth rate, and the beak growth was indeed fascinating!