Tag: Back Yard

My First Hummingbird!!!

by Mike

So for months now I have been doing my part to help the local bird population during the heat and drought this year here in North Texas, and other than the occasional view of the hummingbird out the kitchen window, usually between 6:30 and 7:30 each evening, no real “contact” has been made with the little guy.  That is until today.

This morning while sitting outside and watering the flower pots near the hummingbird feeder, the little guy buzzed Karen and I, hovered for a few seconds, and then lit on the feeder and ate.  We sat very still and just watched, each just beaming that we were sitting so close and he didn’t seem to mind.

Then later, since it was such a nice day, we decided to eat lunch outside.  And then we spotted him!  He was perched in a tree on the edge of the yard, just sitting there watching.  I went inside and got the binoculars for Karen, thinking that as soon as I got up he would fly away.  He didn’t.  In fact, after a few minutes, he came over beside where we were eating and first buzzed the flower pots, and then his feeder.

At this point, I’m thinking, I wonder if I could get my camera without scaring him away.  As soon as he finished, he flew back to the tree and perched again.  I was up and in the house gathering camera, tripod, flash, etc.  Got back to the door to go outside…slow down…breathe…slowly go out and sit down and set up.  Yes!  He’s still perched in the tree.  I shoot a few shots of him across the yard, knowing that he’s too far away. 

Then, I set the camera up and focus on the feeder, hoping that he will make another fly-by.  He does!  Here he comes.  Circles the first flower pot.  And then the second.  I’m ready with my finger on the shutter for him to hit the feeder. and then… he flies back to the tree.  Drats!

Karen decides it’s time for her to go in.  I decide to stay just a little longer.  Maybe he’ll come by again.  Maybe the introduction of the camera with the big white lens scared him off.  So I’m watching him in the tree, and then it happens; he takes off!  Flies to the corner of the house, and then down to the flower pots!  I’m not taking any chances this time.  I’m fumbling with the tripod and the focus and snapping away.  He’s buzzing all over the flowers—doesn’t stay still for very long in any one place.  I’m focusing.  I’m shooting.  Flash if firing.  And he flies back to the tree.  Finally!  I think I have some shots!

Run (slowly, still don’t want to frighten him) back into the house and pop the CF card into the computer and there he is!  Yes, there were several bad shots, but there are a few keepers.  Next time there will be even more as I learn his habits and he becomes more used to me being there.

I think it’s going to be a great fall (once it ever gets here)!

Here are the keepers.

Enjoying God’s Beautiful World…

My First Hummingbird

My First Hummingbird

My First Hummingbird

My First Hummingbird

Getting Closer

by Mike

Day 11:

I know that each day that passes, the day the baby robins will leave the nest grows closer as well.  I am finding them (or maybe just one of them) on the ground more and more as well.  Today I placed a baby back in the nest twice.  I know that they can’t fly yet, and I’m not sure if they are jumping, falling, or being pushed out because the nest is so full.  Tomorrow I will keep an eye on them and see how it goes but for now, the parents don’t seem to mind the help.  The baby seemed appreciative as well.  At least it didn’t poop on me today like it did last week.  It is just to hot to be outside of the shade of the tree these past few days.

Getting better on the pictures.  The family is pretty tolerant of me getting fairly close with my tripod, and I’m having some luck using the timer remote so I don’t have to stand there the entire time either.  Flash is working out well.  Seems that about the time I get all the mechanics of this all worked out, my time with them will be over.  But as I’ve added more bird feeders and plants in the back yard, hopefully even more birds will come to my “studio” for their portraits!

And now for today’s pictures…

By looking at the pictures, I’ve finally been able to tell the parents apart by the markings around the eye.  Still not sure which is male and female, but I’m guessing this one is the male because he seems more “bulky”.  Is that sexists?  I have found the last couple of days that the parents are spending more time away from the nest, just keeping their eyes on what is going on rather than hovering over the nest like they were.  I guess even the parents know that their time in the nest is growing short.

Standing Watch

This little guy was on the ground this evening.  At first he seemed to be crying to get back to the nest, but then decided to explore around a little bit.

Mom! I Fell Out Again!

After discovering he could walk, he started to venture away from the tree to see what the big world had to offer.

Who Needs Them Anyway?

Strutting around, he discovered he had wings and even tried them out a little.  Not quite enough there for create any lift for flight, but he’s getting the idea.

I've Got Wings and Legs!

Okay, enough exploring.  It didn’t take long before he was ready to go back home.  As soon as the parents went for dinner, I carefully scooped him up and placed him back in the nest with his siblings.

Mom! I'm Hungry!

Once back inside the nest, it is pretty obvious that the parents didn’t plan on them staying here very long.  The nest is very crowded with the three little ones there.  They only need to stick it out a few more days and they will be on their way.

Stay On Your Side!

As these two seemed to be sticking close together, I could almost imagine them conspiring against the other one to make more room in the nest.

Let's Kick Him Out Again!

You can see here, just how crowed the nest has become.  It is getting harder for them all three to fit down inside the nest.  They seem to be taking turns “riding” the side of the nest for more room.

Crowded Nest

I know that for me that is an educational experience.  Not only photographically, but also biologically, trying to understand the hows and whys of the nesting process. Hopefully, this will not be my last experience and I will be even better prepared the next time I have these types of visitors.

It will just be a few more days now and the nest will be empty.  A part of me will be sad, but another part will be happy seeing them all three leave safe and healthy.

Near Disaster!

by Mike

Today when I got home, my nephew Gerry tells me that the baby birds are out of the nest and on the ground.  He also tells me that the momma bird was feeding them on the ground!  Shocked, because I know they are only 3 days old and haven’t grown enough to fly, we rush outside to rescue them.  Sure enough, the babies are on the ground near the trunk of the tree, but the parents are no where to be seen.  Having just read last night that it is safe to put the babies back in the nest, I decided that would be my course of action.

One by one I pick up the little critters, and by little I mean very tiny.  These little guys didn’t come close to filling the palm of my hand.  Since the nest is up higher than I am tall, I had to reach up into the tree and gently place the birdies in the nest, one by one.  And they thank me by pooping on my hands! (Thanks guys!)

Once I have them back in the nest, I move back to the porch and wait.  And wait.  And wait.  I’m starting to fear that the parents have abandoned them, when finally, one of them flies straight to the trunk of the tree, and begins looking around.  Great, now it doesn’t know where the children are.  But I wait.  Slowly the head cocks to one side as if listening, and then up on the lowest branch.  Stop, listen, jump, next branch.  Finally, it arrives at the nest and a happy reunion takes place!  The parent starts pushing them back down in the nest as they keep squirming around like they are trying to get out. 

Back in the Nest!

Finally, everyone is settled down and the family is reunited.  Once they are calm, the parent begins making the round to gather food and bringing it back.

Dinner!

Yes sir, nothing like a big ol’ helpin’ of worms to get the young ones growing.  Maybe the diet is when they are ready to leave home at only two weeks old.  Like most kids, they probably feel they can do better themselves so off they go.  Before the evening is out, the other parent shows up and the tag-team feeding begins anew.  Once again, the entire family is present and accounted for.

Mmmmm, Worms!

Worm after worm, these guys are getting fed well.  No wonder their little bodies were so round and plump!  I now know that there are three babies in the nest, because I put them back in, but when being fed, I was always only seeing two heads popping up.  It wasn’t until closer to the end of the evening that I finally saw all three of them sticking their heads up at once.

The Three Amigos

Now I can sleep well tonight knowing that the babies are back in their nest and safe from any ground predators.  It’s back over to mom and dad now to take care of them.  Hopefully they have learned their lesson about getting too close to the edge!