Costa's Hummingbird in Ridgecrest

1998 Nesting Activity

The picture on the right is the first Costa's nesting occurrence in my yard for 1998. These pictures were taken February 21th.

Unfortunately, the 1998-1 nest failed. On the afternoon of next day after the first egg hatched (Feb. 20), the desert winds started and blew heavily for two straight days. This was followed by two days of heavy El Niño rains. This in turned followed by more windy days. It is my opinion that the hatchling succumbed by the inability of the mother to gather enough bugs and nectar and to the chilling effects of the weather. The second egg failed to hatch due to either weather or infertility or a crack in the shell. The egg was removed from the nest and examined revealing a hole in the shell and the dried up embryo.

The female abandoned this nest on March 2, 1998, but was seen building a new nest (1998-2) in one of the patio lamps. This nest resulted in two eggs. The first egg being laid on March 7 and the second egg on March 10. Seventeen days after being laid (March 24th) the first egg hatched followed the next day (March 25th) with the second egg hatching (15 days after being laid). An El Niño type storm came in the next day bringing winds, rains and cold temperatures. However, the storm cleared the following day with sunshine and warm temperatures returning. Both hatchlings have fledged the nest on April 19th and 20th respectfully. This was 26 days since being laid. These two stayed in the nest longer than any of my previous nestings.

The 1998-3 nesting has occurred. Using the same nest as for the 1998-2 event, the female laid her first egg on April 26th followed two days later with her second egg. The first 1998-3 egg hatched in the morning of May 12th, 16 days after being laid. The second egg hatched in the morning of May 13th, 15 days after being laid. The first chick fledged the nest in the afternoon of June 1st, 36 days after being laid and 20 days since hatching. The second chick fledged the nest in afternoon of June 3rd, 36 days after being laid and 21 days since hatching.

The female reused the same nest from the 1998-2 and 1998-3 nesting events to start her 1998-4 nesting event. Incredibly, a FOURTH brood. The first egg was laid in the morning of June 9th followed two days later (June 11th) with the second egg also being laid in the morning. The first 1998-4 egg hatched in the afternoon of June 24th, 15 days after being laid. The second 1998-4 egg hatched in the afternoon of June 25th, 14 days after being laid. Both chicks fledged the nest in the afternoon of July 15th, 36 and 34 days respectively since being laid, and 21 and 20 respectfully since hatching. Whilst I was taking pictures of the first chick out of the nest, I happened to watch as the second chick left the nest at exactly 5:04 pm PDT.

This is only the second time I have observed a specific female having four nests in a single season with the previous time being 1995.

Nesting Event       1998-1  DSL DSH            1998-2   DSL DSH
1st Egg Laid         4-Feb (estimated)          7-Mar
2nd Egg Laid         6-Feb (estimated)         10-Mar
1st Egg Hatched     20-Feb (failed to survive) 24-Mar   17
2nd Egg Hatched     (failed to hatch)          25-Mar   15
1st Chick Fledged   *       *   *              19-Apr   43  26
2nd Chick Fledged   *       *   *              20-Apr   40  26

Nesting Event       1998-3  DSL DSH    1998-4  DSL DSH
1st Egg Laid        26-Apr              9-Jun
2nd Egg Laid        28-Apr             11-Jun
1st Egg Hatched     12-May  16         24-Jun  15
2nd Egg Hatched     13-May  15         25-Jun  14
1st Chick Fledged    1-Jun  36  20     15-Jul  36  21
2nd Chick Fledged    3-Jun  36  21     15-Jul  34  20

DSL - Days Since Laid
DSH - Days Since Hatched
The 1998-1 nest was actually in a tree/scrub.
   The nest was abandoned on March 2nd.

Any comments or further questions can be sent to me at:
Rick Hallowell