Making of a Hummingbird's Nest

With my Internet line torn down by a tall moving truck and my van being in the shop again, it has been a very eventful first weeks of this new year. Finally getting my Internet line connected today, I have a lot to show you. First, I watched a beautiful Anna's Hummingbird building her nest last week near one of the trails at the San Elijo Nature Reserve. Here are some magical moments as the female constructs her nest with much urgency.

A female Anna's Hummingbird catches my attention as I walk on the trail of the San Elijo Nature Reserve. She keeps flying in the same area and soon lands on a small nest. She has some nest material in her beak and is pushing it into place as she sits inside the nest bowl.

Using her beak as a tool to weave her building material into the nest. 

The female hummingbird does all the nest building, protecting and caring for the young. The male has no role in the nest or the care of the nestlings. Here in this photo, she has brought some nesting material to her nest and is busy arranging it for a perfect fit and comfort of the nest.

The nest is held together with spider webs that she brings back on her chest, head and beak and uses it like sticky stretchy string to shape her nest and keep it together.

 

She is busy building the sides of the nest bowl up to the height that she needs to keep her nestlings in place. 

Taking a quick rest. 

Going off to get more nest materials.

She flashes the red neon plumage on her chin warning me to stay away. 

Back again and now she is using her legs to push and shape the nest bowl. 

She constantly moves her body around the nest for a test fit as she builds up the side wall.

 

More pushing and stretching the nest with her legs and feet as she shapes the bowl.

She flies off and comes back covered with spider webs. 

Flutters back into the nest.

 

Spreading the spider webs with her beak and body.

 

She even uses her tongue to place objects in just the perfect spot. 

Focusing on the details. 

Right here!

One more little adjustment placement. 

 A good look at the tongue. 

 She settles into the nest for a good test. 

Warning off any other hummers that are too close to her nest. 

More pushing and shoving with her tiny legs and feet to shape the nest.

 She stops her active nest building and appears to rest a few moments. 

 Soon, she is alert again and flies off to get more nest materials. 

Comes back covered again in spider webbing. 

The spider webbing is plastered onto the nest. 

She is busy poking, pushing and arranging materials as she builds the side wall of the nest bowl.

Here is a photo of her flying into the nest with some more nest-building material in her beak. 

 

She is ready to place it on the rim of the nest bowl. The spider webbing is ready to make it stick in place. 

 

More fluff brought in. 

She pokes it into the nest for padding. 

The clicking of my camera catches her attention.

She gives a few scolding sounds. 

And takes another break.

Keeping an eye on all activities around her nest. 

 

This photo was taken just the other day and you can see that she has made quite a bit of progress on the nest. The outer edge of the nest bowl has been built up and she has added a lot more fluff to her nest. Even some of her feathers are seen here. 

Still busy with last minute touch ups. She may already have laid an egg in the nest but they usually lay two.

 

She tucks more fluff into the nest using her beak. 

 

Wow, she sure looks like she is quite heavy with egg! Hopefully we will see some youngsters in a few weeks. I have found three more hummingbird nests at the lagoon and will be keeping an eye on those too. 

 

Have a wonderful week everyone!