Allen's Hummingbird: From Eggs to Fledgling

 

On Easter Sunday, I received a text from my friend Mark saying that he had spotted an Allen's Hummingbird's nest next to his dining room window. He also sent me a photo he took with his phone showing two beautiful eggs in a nest built on the trellis of a bougainvillea bush just about 3 feet off the ground! I asked him to let me know when they hatched. I was delighted to be invited to take some photos of the new hatchlings and document their progress with my camera. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the photos from eggs to fledgling. The eggs are incubated for about 15 to 18 days until hatching. It will take 18 to 28 days for the hatchlings to fledge (when they leave the nest). Mark and I were lucky enough to actually see the first nestling branch and then fledge on the 6th of May! What a wonderful experience it has been to see these beauties grow healthy and strong. Stay safe, little ones!

 

This is a shot taken from Mark's phone looking down into the nest. Thank you Mark for letting me document this beauty and her nestlings.

 

 

 

 

Brooding

 

 

 

First sign of hatchlings poop

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newborn with eyes closed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eyes closed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4-19-21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Pin feathers! 4-28-2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

5-2-21

 

2a

Fledge day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3