I know little about this blog topic, hummingbirds. I admit though I know more now than a year ago because I have seen their little nests and eggs. We also went to a hummingbird banding and presentation by the San Pedro River in Southern Arizona.
The speaker told us twelve different species of hummingbirds migrate through their area, and most are Black Chinned. They usually lay two eggs, in their tiny nests made of spiderwebs and leaf fragments, as one doesn’t satisfy their mothering instincts, and three are too many to feed.
The mother is the sole builder of the nest and caregiver of the babies.
How does this relate to mental heath, you ask? Well, I think I have I have a hummingbird in my yard which is mentally unstable, and I don’t know how to help her. I don’t know how to help myself because she makes me so sad.
We have a few hummingbirds in our yard because of the flowering Lantana. Three weeks ago, one started building a nest on a security camera attached to our eaves. We watched her carry feather down and leaves to a circular indention where the camera attaches to a bracket. She hovered and wrapped spider webs on her beak to serve as glue for her nest.
The process was mesmerizing to watch.
We left for a few days, and when we returned, we couldn’t see a nest, but she continually sat in the little metal circle.
When she left her nest, I snapped a picture, and she had one egg and no nest. The egg laid right next to the bolt and nut.
I thought that was weird, but what do I know? She sat there every day, all day, leaving the nest only to gather nectar.
A week after I saw the egg in the nest, I found the little egg on the patio below the nest. It fell and broke. I felt terrible. I didn’t know if I was sadder for her or me.
Two weeks later, with no egg, she still sits on the nest every day, all day. It breaks my heart. I look, and there she sits. I have checked several times, and she has no eggs. Does she think the bolt is an egg? Is she a baby herself with undeveloped natural instincts?
I don’t know. I only know I feel her loss.
Until the next time: Live while you live!
Jennifer, that is such a sad story. We have them all the time in our back yard but most of the time we can call them ‘bully birds’ for chasing each other away from the food. But this, just seems to give them more of a heart. Just so so sad to see a mother waiting to see her young baby that will never be.
I know Geri, it makes me not want to look at the “nest,” SO sad:-(
That IS a sad story! My first one returned for the summer today. I love to watch them!
I know, and here it is Saturday and she is still sitting up there:-( I try not to look, but I’m obviously not successful. Somebody told me yesterday they have parakeets that do the same thing. They promised me they it wouldn’t last forever:-)
Jennifer,
Several weeks ago I was cleaning the Windows downstairs. I observed several birds sitting on the window well chattering. I was confused until I realized that several baby birds had somehow fallen into the deep window well. Touching birds, not my cup of tea, but across the street lived a 10 year old I thought might be up to the task. He excitedly lept into my yard and bolted around the fence jumping in the window. He tenderly picked up the chirping babies and laid them on the lawn. We had rescued two birdies and given them life.
Some bird stories turn out tweeting well.
Gloria, Utah
Great story Gloria….It does take a village;-)