almost fledged
 

Bea's little babies aren't so little anymore.

I thought for sure they would fly away today, but all they are doing is practice.

But they are very adorable and fun to watch.


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They might be "gone" tomorrow.

Everyone on the Bea cam expected both chicks to fledge yesterday.

The smaller one did fly away late just at dusk. He came back for a few minutes and then flew off for the night.

This morning the remaining chick is trembling, and not very interested in anything. She even refused one feeding from Mom.

Now at about 11am EST the little male who fledged yesterday has returned. The remaining chick even moved over before he came leaving a large spot open for him.

The change in behavior of the remaining chick has been remarkable. The caressing they did, and even mutual preening is very moving. Evidently according to the cam owner, who is experienced...this has not happened before. The chicks typically remain away from the nest once they fly for the first time.

The chat that accompanies this cam is naturally quite active today and the conversation reflects this unusual state of affairs!

Do take a look at this cam today...it is truly remarkable!

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It appears that the one chick is helping the second to fledge!

edit.... here is a photo from the cam from a few minutes ago.
The chick in the back is the one who is hesitating to fledge.
She did accept a meal so I saved the screen shot!

edit 2-- a second shot of Mom feeding again! This time hovering!

Edit #3... best viewing times are before noon, and after 3pm because of the sun/shade. The nest is in shade for some parts of the early afternoon. There are videos below the stream window that show what has happened since yesterday. They have a pause button so you can capture stills. It appears the Bea is feeding much more today, perhaps yesterday, she didn't feed enough to give the chicks enough energy. Sometimes the mother cuts back on feeding to encourage the chicks out of the nest...but this can backfire.

Here is the video of Zipper's return to the nest.

He apparently followed Mom back. You can see his little head in the lower left of the video, in the first 5 minutes.
They seem really happy to be back together IMO.


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Zipper and Velcro fledged yesterday at about 3:30pm Pacific time.

Bea is already checking out the nest for repair. (she may have eggs coming soon!)

I have intentionally limited my time watching the live cams as I have to stay work disciplined and it is so easy to drift off into a watching fascination and then time flies by ......:o

I do peak in at them tho every now and then and have grown especially fond of the hummingbirds :)

Zipper and Velcro have returned to the nest and have been there
all afternoon.

For a while they were trembling quite a bit. I guess they are not quite ready to be on their own?

They are still there now.

The chat is saying that one egg is missing out of Phoebe's nest?
I am going over there now. :confused:

edit-- apparently the egg that had the hole in it, died. Started to smell (hummingbirds can't smell), and attracted a lizard. Phoebe became agitated and speared the dead egg and removed it so the lizard would leave. Some people saw it...the lizard on the cam. I missed it.

Phoebe is still agitated... so we don't know what is going to happen next.

To see the lizard attack at Phoebe's today:


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at around 56:90 and at 1:01:00 you can move the bar to those times...

at 57:00 the lizard appears! You can see the flash and hear the thump as Phoebe attacks him.

At the 1:01:00 time she removes the dead egg to lure him away.

Hubby is calling this Hummingbird soaps!

I can watch this video forever! I sent it to my sister and she said the Lt. Col in her office (she works for a government agency in VA) was just mesmerized by it. Apparently his wife feeds hummingbirds so he asked if he could forward the link to her.

Phoebe has abandoned her nest and egg.
 

There is now a YouTube of the Lizard attack:


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It condenses the times and is easier to watch.

It appears that Phoebe is giving up on her other egg and the nest now.

Velcro and Zipper are off the air this morning. Velcro must have fledged again.

Phoebe has returned to the nest, and since the egg is not discolored like the other one, people on the chat are saying it still might hatch :Dunno:... Phoebe is sitting on it again today.

I suspect she is getting another nest ready however. She often runs two nests in that rosebush tree.