The Hummers have Fledged

Sometime between 9am and 4pm yesterday, day 18, both Ruby-throated Hummingbirds chicks left the nest. It caught me by surprise especially as I had not seen them exercising their wings in the short time that I was there yesterday morning. While I am happy for them, I am sad that this wonderful string of days watching them grow is over.

Though they are out of the nest, they still have a ways to go. In all likelihood they are in the vicinity of the nest perched on a open branch. The female will continue to feed them for another 4 and 7 days. Usually by day 25 they are fully self-sufficient. As I mentioned yesterday, the bill is still short. It will be another 12 days before it reaches its full length. The two chicks have a remarkable journey still ahead of them. They are left to find their own way to their wintering grounds in Central America, which means having to make it across the Gulf of Mexico. Immatures usually leave our area in mid-to-late September several weeks after the adults have left. Nature is truly amazing.