~ baby hummingbirds - day 19-20 ~

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Once again, my dad has graciously allowed me to share his photographs

of the two baby hummingbirds that are living in his yard.

For the previous entries,

documenting them from eggs until the present,

please see here:

Eggs

1-3 days old

4-9 days old

10-16 days old

17 days old

18 days old

day 19

~ momma hummingbird feeding her twins ~

(picture by my mom, Carolyn)

day 19

Hummingbirds often choose nesting sites near where woodland hawks nest.

These fast-flying hawks (like the sharp-shinned and cooper's in the East)

prey on the predators of hummingbirds.

day 20

day 20

They should be fledging any day now!

My dad says they are doing a lot of preening, flapping their wings,

and even hopping out of the nest.

Once they've left their nest,

they will not return,

but their mother will feed them for a few days.

~carrie~