The attached picture was taken few days after the nest was vacated, giving me chance to do my silver dollar experiment. I visited the nest few times a week, taking pictures with each visit, first just the adult and eventually two immature hummingbirds. At top of the nest, the diameter not larger than the diameter of 1985 National Parks of Canada 100 anniversary silver dollar. Which weight 15.62 grams, you can do the math to figure out home many Rufous Hummingbirds that would be. So few months back I was very excited when a friend had showed me a nest of Rufous Hummingbird. A very feisty bird, even more then I when defending my last piece of chocolate. Only know bird that can fly backward, using this and their other abilities to defend their territory, even if just passing through. They need lot of nectar or the occasional small insects to have the energy to migrate, consume more than their weight in nectar each day. They tend to spend their winter in Mexico, but can be found as far north as Alaska in the summer. Nickel’s weight is about 5 grams, an adult rufous weights three to four grams. Grab a nickel and hold it in your hands, a Rufous Hummingbird weight even less than that. Afterwards, she sat on the nest, I walked away. The female had returned to the nest, I looked around to make sure no one was in the area, pulled out the camera and took the picture. It was a few days after the eggs had hatched, early in the morning, just me in the area.
I wanted one picture to remember the whole experience, this was it. If you have a penny, you got half a Rufous hummingbird. Rufous? Grab a nickel, put in your hand, that’s close to the weight of an adult Rufous Hummingbird, 5 grams. Although various larger birds, snakes, and mammals raid hummingbird nests for eggs and chicks, predation is not a major cause of mortality in adult hummingbirds. A Common Raven can weigh as much as 1.6 kg. But rufous are tough, I have seen one go after a Common Raven, who was too close to the nest. Here it feeds on flower nectar, tree sap, small insects and spiders. Predators may include a squirrel and various birds. (10 cm ) On its summer breeding grounds, this species is a relatively common in coniferous forest near open meadows. And rarely everything goes smoothly, dealing with the weather and predators. From building the nest to raising the next generation. She does all the work after mating has taken place. The female starts looking for a safe place for the nest few days after coming up north. I have been lucky enough to see a few active Rufous Hummingbird nests.
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