A hummingbird is gracing me with her nest this spring.

[catzies]

On my front patio, in an alcove, somehow anchored to a vertical chain holding a hanging basket of wandering jew, a new family is being born.

The world can be a nasty, ugly, mean place but life prevails. I feel privileged that she chose me and I feel very protective of her safety and security. She's also a little too close to the front door, so going in and out always startles her and she flies off for a few minutes now matter how careful and quiet I am.

Just looking at her through my kitchen window lifts my spirits. She's about 8 ft. from a feeder too, and I can't wait to see her take her babies there soon.

This isn't an actual picture of her, but it's representative enough to give you all an idea. And of course, the nest is teeny-tiny, maybe two tablespoons-full size.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

1. Cool.

I hope you get some great pictures. I envy you.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Hummers are...

The qwaziest peoples. ;')

Put out lots of feeders and bird baths. Turn off your TV and watch the Hummers. More fun and more edifying than the news. ;-)

[MuseRider]

3. That is so cool!

I found a nest while on vacation in Colorado about 10 years ago. The little babies looked like little bowling pins sitting up in the nest. They were so cute. I have yet to find one here where I live although I look every year.

[Gloria]

4. This is wonderful!!!!

Cherish this, it is a fantastic event!!

Down here in Las Cruces, NM, we had an unusual early amount of rainguall this spring, so the flowers, etc. have been particulary profuse and there's a lot of food for the little guys. So, not many hummers at the feeders. But, I think as things heat up, they'll be back in droves.
Last summer, I could sit on my back porch and be dive-bombed by hummers as the swooped around doing their territorial thing over the feeders...

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. YAY! I love hummingbirds

At my parent's estate, we had a lot of them and a hummingbird feeder. Of course, the little monsters would suck down 2L of sugar water a day, which meant that, once a day, we had to bring the feeder in to refill it. And of course also, the hummingbirds were at the feeder every 1.5 minutes, the hungry little floaters.

I remember when I'd bring the feeder in to refill it (I always did it around lunchtime, when the birds were still active), the hummingbirds would come to where the feeder is SUPPOSED to be and I swear they had really dirty looks on their faces that there wasn't any food there. They seemed truly outraged, and in a self-centered kind of way like a cat.

And I loved it!

They're so fun to watch. One of my favorite birds.

[catzies]

7. They DO give you dirty looks!!

I'm laughing because that is so true! They hover, and look at you and scowl.

And they're fiercely territorial. I have to have multiple feeders in the front yard and the back because each seem to be claimed by a single bird, who chases away all interlopers.

And yes, when I sit outside, and one of these "turf wars" flare up, they divebomb each other and it's hilarious.

I'm so glad so many other people here love the little darlings too.

[Ladyhawk]

6. Hummingbirds mistake my parrot for a flower and attempt...

...to extract nectar from him. I'm not kidding. I think it's hysterical, but Gabby is not amused.

[proud patriot]

8. I have a nest this year too

It's such a blessing to have hummers :hi:

[LWolf]

9. Aren't they great?

I have a hummer who nests in my garage every year. Directly above the tool box, lol. She's sitting now. For the whole time she's in there, the garage door doesn't close. Luckily, it opens on the back yard, with the driveway to the back alley and a locked gate.

[bigwillq]

10. That's so great

Enjoy. I love when birds pick the trees by my yards for their homes.
You do feel like they belong to you b/c they picked that spot.
I love that spring has sprung!!

Keep us updated about the hummers.

[July]

11. I've got bluebirds and robins nesting.

Put up a box in the woods behind the house, and the bluebirds are using it (big thrill for me).

Robins keep making nests under my second-story deck. I'm trying to figure out why they keep coming back here. Are they the same birds as last year, or the year before? Is it instinct, and we have the grooviest spot for a nest?

It's such a simple and thoroughly enjoyable thing to watch the birds setting up house, isn't it?

[fudge stripe cookays]

12. I have a mama dove here...

She may be the same one we had last year. She's up in the top of my curved rose arbor.

I wish I had hummers! I've never seen one up close but they fascinate me! I'm putting in lots of hummingbird attracting flowers. I'm hoping my luck will change.

Congratulations on your new arrivals! If you get any pictures, you know we'd LOVE to see them!

FSC

[The Lone Liberal]

13. Once during the time of Camelot

There was a place in Allentown, CO. Served up some bodacious blueberry pie and had a gadzillion hummingbirds. Love their pie and their humingbird arguments over ownership of feeders.