Hummingbird Nest With Chicks
by Jordan Blackstone
Title
Hummingbird Nest With Chicks
Artist
Jordan Blackstone
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Hummingbird nests are amazing architectural creations that protect and nurture some of the most delicate birds. It may only be 5-8 weeks from the time nest construction begins until the maturing birds leave home, but observing hummingbird nests can be a rewarding and enchanting experience for birders.
They choose safe, sheltered locations for their nests, ensuring that the hatchlings are protected from sun, wind, rain or predators. The most common nest locations are in the forked branch of a tree, along thin plant branches or sheltered in bushes. Hummingbirds are resourceful, however, and may build nests in unique locations including on wires or clotheslines, in porch lamps, on top of wind chimes or even on the top of a cactus. When choosing a nest location, the female bird may land on it repeatedly to test the stability of the perch that, if chosen, must support not only her weight, but also the weight of the nest and her growing chicks.
Hummingbird nests are built entirely by the female bird, male hummingbirds do not have any part in raising chicks once the initial act of copulation is complete. The female, however, will spend several hours a day for 5-7 days collecting materials to build her nest. The most common nesting materials found in hummingbird nests include:
Moss and lichen
Plant down from thistles, dandelions or cattails
Spider silk
Cotton fibers
Small bits of bark or leaves
Feathers
Fuzz or hairs from leaves
These materials are woven together into a dense cup that is frequently decorated with moss, lichen or other materials for camouflage. The edge of the cup is curved inward to protect the eggs from tipping out in high winds, and the spider silk used to bind the nest together gives it elasticity to enlarge as the hatchlings grow.
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Uploaded
May 17th, 2013
Statistics
Viewed 1,672 Times - Last Visitor from Romeo, MI on 04/24/2024 at 3:56 PM
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Comments (28)
John Bailey
Congratulations on being featured in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
Giada Rossi
Wow, Jordan, WHAT A CAPTURE!!!!! Never seen a hummingbird's nest before and didn't know all the fantastic details about how they build their nests! Just amazing! And it have also tiny babies in it, what a gorgeous photo full of tenderness! Adorable and wonderful shot!
Jordan Blackstone replied:
Giada, thanks so much for the Wow!! And for your lovely comment, my friend! =)
Steven Reed
Amazing find and capture! I've never seen a hummingbird nest before! Terrific work!
Jordan Blackstone replied:
Have to admit, Steven, this is the first one I'd ever seen too! Thank you! =)
Douglas MooreZart
First of all its phenomenal you captured this, Second its a stunning photograph! A++ Sent to everyone on the earth
Lee Craig
What a great capture! I've looked and looked for a hummingbird nest and never found one! Sharing!
Jordan Blackstone replied:
Lee, this one found me! The mom was protecting its babies while I was in a store...she actually flew right up to me and kept flying around me until I moved, I watched her as she left me and found the nest. I stayed back and used my zoom to not upset mom again. She had built the nest in an eave over top of where the store had placed their garbage can!
Tessa Fairey
Beautiful Jordan! How fortunate you were able to find this nest with babies! They must have been so tiny! v/f
Jordan Blackstone replied:
Thank you, Tessa! They left the nest 2 days later ~ and the mom made a new nest not far from this one. =)
Heather King
This melts my heart into a pile of goo:) I have never seen a hummingbird in real life let alone a nest of it's chicks!!! Incredibly beautiful Jordan!
Jordan Blackstone replied:
Aw, Heather, I know the feeling! What surprised me was the mom was flying around me before we spotted the nest ~ I was just so excited to see that! =)
Caitlyn Grasso
What a wonderful capture! I have always wanted to find a hummingbird's nest. v/fav
Jordan Blackstone replied:
Caitlyn, I know what you mean!! Have been looking for years too! Thank you for stopping by and voting/fave!! =)
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