Allen's Hummingbirds - California / Phoebe

[Kinderchick]

Looks as if Bob fledged today around noon, PST. Rose looks incredulous. LOL! Check out the link below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epC1kS_XR9M

[Kinderchick]

Both chicks are still in the nest.

[Kinderchick]

So, maybe we'll have a New Year's Eve fledge!

[susha]

I just checked in on them as well, Elaine.  They are so cute!  And fledge-watch begins on Saturday already!  These little guys do everything at warp speed!

[Elaine L]

Just paid an online visit to Phoebe's babies, and holy smoke!  they are stuffed in that nest like an elephant in a teacup!  I don't know how they avoid stabbing each other in the eye with their beaks in that limited space, but they do.  They seem to be very tolerant of being crowded; I would be very grumpy, if that was me.

[Kinderchick]

Bob & Rose sure are getting big! I'd forgotten how fast they grow!

[susha]

I've read somewhere on the Phoebe site that they don't ever know the genders of the babies because they fly off to establish their own territories once they've fledged and they're not banded.  They pick one male name and one female one for each clutch.

[Kinderchick]

MayShowers actually asked that question, Elaine, but I have to admit, I have wondered the same thing, particularly since hummingbird hatchlings are so tiny. I don't see how they could possibly identify the gender of the hatchlings. I think they just pick names and some sound like female names and some sound more like male names.

[Elaine L]

Kinderchick, I don't think that is a silly question.  From what I have read on BCAW and other bird sites, they often get the sex of the hatchling wrong.  So, I am wondering if they are just guessing, based on what, I don't know; because hummingbirds are so small, I would think you can't tell based on size, as is often the case with falcons.

[MayShowers]

This is going to sound like a silly question, but how do they know the gender in order to name the hatchlings?

[Kinderchick]

Thanks great news! The 2nd hatchling's name is Rose.

[eagle63_1999]

We had the second hatch this morning at 6:27 am PT!!!!!!

[Kinderchick]

Darn, missed the hatch! Still, wonderful news, eagle! And right on schedule! First hatchling named "Bob" after Mr. P.'s 94 yr. old father, who's birthday it is today. It's Mr. P.'s yard that Phoebe nests in every year, for those who are wondering who Mr. P. is.

[susha]

This is wonderful news!!  Welcome to Bob!

[eagle63_1999]

We have a first hatchling, pre-dawn hatch!!!!!!!!!!!!!