Hummingbirds in Weslyn Park
Nothing says “springtime” quite like hummingbird nests do! While out on a routine visit through Weslyn Park in Sunbridge Florida, our friends from Cherrylake landscaping happened to notice two tiny nests up in the branches of a maple tree. These nests are so small, usually only a little over an inch in diameter, that spotting them can be nearly impossible for most. There are seventeen species of hummingbirds that breed in North America and they each like to make their nests in slightly different ways depending on available materials, size of the adult birds, and proximity to stable sources of food and water. However, each of these nests have the same purpose: create a structure that is sturdy enough to last for the duration of the fledgling season and flexible enough to expand with the birds as they grow.
Nests are built by the females, who will spend hours a day for up to seven days constructing these velvety, compact little homes starting with twigs and leaves for the base, spider silk to hold everything together and anchor it to a foundation, and very fine plant fibers, lichen and moss to help camouflage the nest and make the walls elastic and cozy to allow for the hatchlings growth. They greatly prefer to build their nests in trees or shrubs instead of nest boxes or tree cavities.
A hummingbird egg is the size of a jelly bean and the total period from egg to fledging is about three to four weeks. Once they’ve grown all their feathers and have learned to fly, they leave the nest and do not return. By now the nest has lost its shape and cannot be reused, so the mother bird will create another. Hummingbirds will typically live for three to five years, but in rare instances they have been known to live for more then ten years.
It is illegal to touch, remove or relocate an active hummingbird nest in the United States. Upon discovery, it is best practice to observe from a distance with the help of binoculars or a spotting scope. This will reduce the chance of any disturbances and avoid inadvertently tipping off potential predators, like cats, hawks or owls, to the location. To help protect the nests, plant native nectar flowers in nearby areas away from heavy traffic, provide clean water sources and avoid the overuse of pesticides.
