Costa's Hummingbird in Ridgecrest

1999 Nesting Activity

1999-1. The winter winds had blown away the nest left over from 1998 so the female had to start with a new nest. She was first seen building the nest on February 20th. It was not until the morning of March 2nd that the first egg was laid. The second egg was laid two days later in the morning of March 4th. The first egg hatched in the afternoon of March 18th, 16 days after being laid. The second egg hatched in the afternoon of March 19th, 15 days since being laid. Both chicks fledged the nest on April 11 and 13 respectfully each during the morning hours. The picture at the right was taken the day before the first chick left the nest. Their departure was perhaps delayed by a cold late season rain. Mother was seen post-nest feeding the youngsters.

1999-2. Three days after the last chick left the nest, the female was seen building a nest in a nearby pine tree. This nest was some 20 feet from the ground and difficult to peer into. However, on April 21st, she was spotted back at the old 1999-1 nest in the lamp. The next day an egg was in the nest followed two days later by a second egg. In the afternoon of May 8th, the first egg hatched. This was followed the next morning with the hatching of the second egg. The eggs hatched 16 and 15 days respectfully after being laid. Both chicks fledged the nest in the morning of May 30th.

1999-3. One day after the chicks had fledged the nest, the female was seen building a new nest in the bottom of the other patio lamp. This was done even though the 1999-2 patio lamp nest was still intact. In the afternoon of June 4th, the female laid her first egg. As expected, the female laid second egg on June 6th. The first egg hatched in the morning of June 20th, and the second egg hatched in the morning of June 21th. The "Days Since Laid" data matched exactly the previous two data sets for 1999. That is, 16 and 15 days since being laid. The chicks sucessfully fledged the nest on July 10th and 11th; 21 and 20 days respectfully since hatching.

Nesting activity ended for the 1999-3 season as 100+ and 110+ degree weather hasd set in for the summer.

Nesting Event       1999-1  DSL DSH    1999-2  DSL DSH    1999-3  DSL DSH
1st Egg Laid         2-Mar             22-Apr              4-Jun
2nd Egg Laid         4-Mar             24-Apr              6-Jun
1st Egg Hatched     18-Mar  16          8-May  16         20-Jun  16
2nd Egg Hatched     19-Mar  15          9-May  15         21-Jun  15
1st Chick Fledged   11-Apr  40  24     30-May  38  23     10-Jul  36  21
2nd Chick Fledged   13-Apr  40  25     30-May  36  21     11-Jul  36  20

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