Anna’s Hummingbird Gathering Nesting Material photos by Larry Jordan
After watching the dive display of the male Anna’s Hummingbird last week, I decided to put out some nesting material for them (I believe it is simply raw cotton). I placed it about six feet from one of the feeders and it didn’t take long for the hummingbirds to find it and start using it.
I am still hearing the dive displays around my yard but I have yet to find a hummingbird nest. If you want to see a nesting Allen’s Hummingbird, check out Phoebe Allens Webcam. If you want to see some great bird photos it’s Bird Photography Weekly. Come and join the fun!
11 responses so far ↓
1 dreamfalcon // Mar 14, 2010 at 9:59 am
That’s very interesting how they pick that nesting material!
2 MaineBirder // Mar 14, 2010 at 10:58 am
Wonderful photos Larry! The first is my favorite!
I can’t wait until the Hummingbirds return here in May.
MaineBirder´s last blog ..Longing for the birds of summer
3 Eileen // Mar 14, 2010 at 11:05 am
Cool photos of the hummingbird with the nesting material. Lucky you to have them nesting in your yard. Great photos.
Eileen´s last blog ..Carolina Chickadee
4 Mick // Mar 14, 2010 at 11:11 am
That was a very smart idea to offer the birds some free nesting material and the resulting photos are fantastic!
Mick´s last blog ..Bar-tailed Godwits – again!
5 chris // Mar 15, 2010 at 7:21 am
HI Larry,
Wow these are fabulous pictures!!! I’d love to see them again, these little hummigbirds. I’ve seen one species in Chile and it was awesome!
chris´s last blog ..Where is the summer??
6 Lana // Mar 15, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Very cool! I recently threw out a whack of hair & dryer lint. I think a Carolina wren’s making use of at least some of it now.
Lana´s last blog ..Life at the Flatwoods
7 Amber Coakley // Mar 15, 2010 at 6:07 pm
I’ve heard of putting out natural cotton. Heck, I could probably find some growing somewhere if I took a little drive! Hey – that would be a fun field trip. Thanks for the idea, Larry. I’ll let you know if find a field of cotton and “borrow” a little.
Amber Coakley´s last blog ..Wood Ducks and the Celebration of Life
8 NatureFooostep Fåglar/Birds // Mar 18, 2010 at 7:54 am
lol, how fun, it really is busy.
NatureFooostep Fåglar/Birds´s last blog ..Rördrom – Botaurus lentiginosus – Great/Eurasian Bittern
9 gwendolen // Mar 18, 2010 at 11:36 pm
What a cool idea, Larry. Love the action photos
gwendolen´s last blog ..We’re all waiting for Spring
10 Andrew // Apr 4, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Those are great photos. I thought the cotton was a cloud at first. Does growing potential nesting material attract more hummingbirds? I’m trying to attract more of them, so I’m going to buy a hummingbird feeder. Are there any you recommend? So far, I’ve found those Perky-Pet Top Fill hummingbird feeders. They open from the top and look really easy to fill.
11 Larry // Apr 4, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Thank you all for your wonderful comments
@Andrew I think that growing your own nesting material or buying it, either one will help them in their nest building.
For top filled hummingbird feeders, I like the Aspects Humzinger Ultra which holds just 12 ounces. If you have lots of hummingbirds and don’t want to have to fill feeders everyday, or even twice a day, get the Best-1, 72 ounce feeder. I have 4 of the 72 ounce feeders and one 12 ounce saucer. They work great!
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