HUMMINGBIRD DRAMA -- DANGEROUS LIVING

DANGEROUS LIVING

Remember those two cute little Allen's Hummingbirds in a nearby SoCal city I previously wrote about that hatched in a patio nest built on a string of Christmas tree lights?  During one of my occasional live streaming video visits I discovered their world has been more dangerous than I ever imagined as compared to those much larger Bald Eagles I've written about previously.

Here's a short video of Allen's Hummingbird from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles:

  

Streaming video site of the hummingbird nest I've been writing about here had dialogue reporting a Kestrel (member of the falcon family) had swooped in grabbing both hummingbird nestlings grown to fledgling size, almost ready to make their first flight -- expecting to fly independently, not to be carried up in the sky by a large raptor intent on a meal.   This predator Kestrel dropped one hummingbird nestling named Clover -- the other named Crimson likely did not survive.    

Here's a National Audubon Society Kestrel video.  I was surprised to learn they can hover in midair.

 

Alik of "Nature With Alik" who has been monitoring this nest was alerted to this kidnapping and luckily found one nestling, Clover, on the ground nearby.  He returned that nestling to the nest.   Reports were the nestling was traumatized, thought to be in shock for a time, apparently not visibly injured.  Fortunately, the mother, Emerald, eventually returned and Clover resumed feeding her one remaining nestling.  

A day later I visited again, coincidentally shortly before unexpectedly another hummingbird threateningly swooped in at Clover as I was watching.  Later, on the streaming video chat there was a report that the Kestrel had also returned and was observed to be spying from a distance on the nest containing Clover.  Also reported was an "aggressive female hummingbird ... with intent on harming Clover ... " had been harassing the nestling.  This led to the conclusion about Clover, "...this bird will not make it until tomorrow".

Alik is reported by Carole Turek at "Hummingbird Spot" to have been chasing away the aggressive female hummingbird and he reportedly planned to take Clover from her nest to the Ventura Hummingbird Rescue.  When ready to fledge Clover wold be released.

Unlike the Friends of Big Bear site of the Bald Eagles I wrote about here who simply observe whatever occurs naturally in nature without interference,  these Hummingbird folks apparently do involve themselves in some instances as with this nestling, thus altering nature.    Of course, the Eagles nest at the top of a tree in the mountains is hardly as easily accessible as that of this hummingbird's nest on a residential patio.  Also, I would think should two parental eagles decide they didn't want trespassers at their nest, given their size, dangerous-looking beak, the consequences for any visitor(s) could be more dangerous than the one tiny hummingbird mother might inflict who is the nestling's only caregiver, but I'm no bird expert.

I continued watching, expecting to see Clover removed from the nest, when suddenly the streaming video went black.  Soon, chat reported Clover had unexpectedly fledged when the effort was made to cover her with a small blanket in order to remove her from the nest.

Time passed, the video and chat remained inoperative with no report specifically describing what happened.  I was left to wonder then if the Kestrel had swooped down to capture Clover again as she fled ... and did she actually fly on what would have been her first flight, or did she fall out of the nest ... or did that other hummingbird attack her?  I visited a site where Carole reported Alik observed Clover had strongly flown to a tree and was thought to be safe where her mother, Emerald, could look after her.  

What an introduction to the world this newbie had!  Does give us thought to consider just how tough is our life?    

Hummingbird Spot (click on link), a web site sharing colorful photographs and videos started by Carole Turek, may be of special interest to hummingbird fans as her effort is to film all of the many varieties of these delicate-looking little birds all over the world, some quite unique in appearance beyond their flashy iridescent colors.  Of note, reportedly ......                                           

"Carole is photographing EVERY hummingbird species?!  180/363 are already done!"

(Permission I requested in the past to share a YouTube video of that local SoCal hummingbird nest here but never received a response.)

Emerald is reported to possibly be building another nest elsewhere in which to lay more eggs for a third successful clutch this season, but I don't know if a live cam will be streaming video of that new site, but I don't expect to follow it or others here.

DOLDRUMS -- BIRD LANGUAGE -- QUESTIONS

DOLDRUMS 

Have these coronavirus days brought on the doldrums for me?  Doldrums are described in Google quotes as "a state or period of inactivIty, stagnation -- a spell of listlessness or despondency, blues -- a state of bafflement, quandary".

I think of being in the doldrums as less than being depressed -- perhaps just a matter of degree.  I'm wondering if that might describe my state of being?  One of the manifesting symptoms for me is I haven't been blogging as much.  My sleep patterns have been topsy turvy, but is that because I'm in the doldrums or am I in the doldrums because of my sleeping issues?

Also, I wonder has the vagrant continuing to periodically violate my property I've previously written about here triggered my subconscious self to heightened alertness levels upsetting my sleep?  Even though consciously I am not fretting about possible concerns given my security measures, has this ultimately evolved into my developing the doldrums?  I am baffled and in a quandary.  I'm not sure how these doldrums have come about, but does it matter?

Incidentally, did you know "doldrums" is actually a variable place?  "An equatorial region of the Atlantic Ocean with calms, sudden storms, and light unpredictable winds."  That describes the range and variability of my feelings.

"The Intertropical Convergence Zone, known by sailors as the doldrums or the calms because of its monotonous windless weather, is the area where the northeast and the southeast trade winds converge.  It encircles Earth near the thermal equator though its specific position varies seasonally".  Wikipedia

"Monotonous" is how I might describe what some days have become despite my weakened efforts to inject variation into them.  Maybe monotonous leads to the doldrums.  Whadda ya think?  Whatever!

Perhaps this is how the coronavirus confinement has taken a toll on me.  I will make an effort to counteract that effect by maintaining a more regular sleep schedule to dispense with this perpetual tiredness I feel during daylight hours until the sun goes down.  I think, too, I will engage in some more regular indoor exercise routines I can maintain throughout our expected outdoors summer heat.  Maybe that will be rejuvenating.  

Life didn't seem to have these complicated feelings in previous years.  On second thought, I guess the feelings were complex -- just with different complicating factors in each decade of my life.  I ponder -- are these reverse sleep patterns, altered energy levels,  issues characteristic of the aged?

BIRD LANGUAGE

I previously introduced Allen's Hummingbird, petite iridescent green feathered Emerald,  referred to by some in chat as "Em" or "Emmie".  Her second clutch of 2 eggs this year hatched this past week as expected.   You may view the nestlings at this live feed: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3HDROQc2eU

Hummingbird Spot live video Allen's Hummingbird.                                                                       

(No infringement on copyright intended per Creative Commons.)

Reflecting on why I find this bird world activity appealing, perhaps this is to compensate for the disappointment I felt when this year's Big Bear Bald Eagles clutch failed for the second consecutive year to produce living eaglets to fledge and join the wildlife world.

Seems not what might be expected -- the large strong eagles having such difficulty producing surviving offspring -- the tiny fragile-looking hummingbirds producing more than one clutch of nestlings to successfully fledge each year.

Incidentally, I notice different language is used in YouTube chat discussion of these opposite in size bird species.  Maybe it's simply a matter of academic versus laymen verbiage.  The Bald Eagle folks awaiting eggs to hatch refer to that process as a "Pip Watch".  Pip referred to the eaglets making that first shell break to eventually hatch, often emerging over a long period of time, from inside their egg.

The hummingbird folks are writing about a "Hatch Watch".   Those baby birds emerge soon after the first break usually.  For both bird species it's all the same process but having not researched the intricacies of bird life I don't know if there are actually some definite baby bird development differences inside the shell  between the two besides the size of their eggs.

I've wondered if my attraction to periodically visit these birds may well be prompted by my desire to seek feeling the enthusiasms for living that new life brings, whatever our species?

QUESTIONS

Questions seem to occupy my thoughts presently, when I review the topics I wrote about this week.  More questions not mentioned here are also prevalent in my mind, including about my own future.   Do you think about your future?   

I query what is the cause of my doldrums?  Then  I wonder what is attracting me to hatching birds -- the promises that new birth, youth, offer for the future?  They also serve as distractions from the everyday world.  

Do you sometimes find yourself caught up in self-reflection, muddling about in your mind about what you do and wondering why?  Maybe it's the isolation from others that brings this on.  Are you attracted to seeking positive offerings and life-affirming promises for the future?  A good dose of humor usually enters into this mix for me, too.