ruby-throated hummingbird nest

 

Just two paragraphs of a beautiful article about ruby-throated hummingbirds. (in Georgia).

"Construction begins with a female attaching bud scales and other tiny bits of plant materials with spider webs to – usually – a tree limb. In some instances, the bird will even use pine rosin to glue the nest to a branch. The slender silk found in tent caterpillar nests is also used in construction. The bottom and sides of the nest are comprised of a variety of materials, such as the down found on dandelions, thistles and other plants. However, bud scales are a key component of ruby-throat nests.

Each item used is meticulously wrapped with spider webs and attached to the nest, making the structure both strong and flexible. The whole process requires the tireless female to make innumerable trips to collect plant matter and spider webs. For that reason, when you spot a female hovering near the spider webs under the eaves of your home, there is a good chance she is collecting pieces to help build her nest."

The complete article at the link below.  

Out My Backdoor: Ruby-throated Hummingbird Nests Are Special

Chatting with a neighbor about hummingbird feeders (during heart like "7 inches from the noon-day sun"~ thank you Santana), and the keeping of hummingbird's health with feeders etc.  Both of us found this article (link below), to add to our love-of-hummingbirds knowledge base.

Out My Backdoor: Hot Nectar Can Pose Threat to Hummers

A week or two ago, I sat down on my concrete bench in early morning coolness before the heat, with a cuppa.  Almost immediately I was dive-bombed by a ruby throated hummer. End of summer flies were whizzing around as they do, and the hummer started circling the batch of flies, then dive bombing and eating flies with such accuracy, that I sat still for 15 or 20 minutes, just watching in awe and amazement.  Hummer kept circling the batch of flies (gnat size), swooping away a few feet, then turning and  hurtling through the air and snatching a fly, and continued. Mesmerizing. Me and a bird,  it was truly a hummer aerial "dog fight". Then, the hummer went straight to the fuchsia hanging basket - watered a few minutes before", went to each fresh blossom, and was gone. It's not a very good description that I've written - but it added to those  so many joyful moments in my mind's collection of  those "pictures not taken". 

I think this particular hummingbird had a nest high up in my old crabapple tree. I looked at it several times through my old binoculars, and the next builder had obviously (to me at least) had used lichen. Thrilling to see - only one I've ever seen. One of the bazillion wonders of the world. I have such admiration, gratitude and respect for the people who take these photographs. They are also "wonderous".