The woods hold not such another gemas the nest of the hummingbird.
The finding of one is an event.
- John Burroughs, naturalist
When I was in Wisconsin, my best friend, Lee, gave me five
empty bird's nests. One was larger, but there were FOUR
hummingbird's nests that she'd found and saved - just for me.
If, in John Burroughs words, "the finding one nest is an event",
then receiving four of these treasures was a full-blown holiday!
The hummer's nests had dried berries that the little
birds had placed in the nests. There were even little
snips of black dog fur from Lee's black Labradors
woven among the twigs and grasses to make a soft bed.
empty bird's nests. One was larger, but there were FOUR
hummingbird's nests that she'd found and saved - just for me.
If, in John Burroughs words, "the finding one nest is an event",
then receiving four of these treasures was a full-blown holiday!
The hummer's nests had dried berries that the little
birds had placed in the nests. There were even little
snips of black dog fur from Lee's black Labradors
woven among the twigs and grasses to make a soft bed.
They're tiny and precious, and did I say there were FOUR of them?I am so looking forward to doing something wonderful with them,
but for now, I'm going to place them in the studio and think of the
little jewels, and their babies who nested snugly inside them.
There was also a larger nest.I don't know what sweet bird patiently brooded in this nest,
guarding her eggs and feeding growing babies, but I'll smile when
I think of it, built to keep another family safe until they
fledged and left their protective refuge to fend for themselves.
Thank you, Lee.
Today is the last day to enter my 400th Follower Giveaway! Midnight (ET) is the deadline to sign up. Good luck and Thank you to all who entered.
PS. One of the bloggers posted great photos of a hummingbird sitting on her nest recently. I can't remember who it was, though. If you know (or if it was you), please email a link to their post or blog to me. I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!
PS. One of the bloggers posted great photos of a hummingbird sitting on her nest recently. I can't remember who it was, though. If you know (or if it was you), please email a link to their post or blog to me. I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!
Hummingbird nests!!! very KEWL, I have never seen one for real.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift!
Love
Marcie
Hi Donna,
ReplyDeleteIf those nests are really that tiny, they could be for smaller finches, or some variety of hummingbird. However, typical hummingbird nests are more conical and kind of in the shape of a gourd. Anyway, they're sweet and I can't wait to see what you end up doing with them.
Hugs,
Meri
Hi Meri:
ReplyDeleteThanks for your insight about the little nests. I'll take another photo with a ruler to show scale on them. The last one is much bigger than the others.
I see lots of finches when I'm at Lee's house, so that wouldn't surprise me. She said they were hummer's nests, so I just assumed that she'd seen them nesting on one of them. Thanks for your insight. I'm certainly not knowledgeable in this matter and appreciate yours.
Thanks always for commenting. I really appreciate it!
Hugs,
Donna
precious little homes....I know you will do something special with them also.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! I have never found a birds nest and we have many in our redwood trees. Sometimes I just sit and watch from the kitchen window as they gather everything to make their little home!
ReplyDeleteThey would look very pretty under cloches.
xxoo
Oh, how precious! I love bird's nests, too. We had an elderly neighbor lady when I was a kid who thought every wild bird carried heinous diseases. When she saw my brother and I playing with an old bird's nest one day, she clutched her chest and we thought she'd fall over. LOL Amazing, we're still kicking.
ReplyDeleteHi Donna! I'm lucky enough to have found one when we moved in here, in the ivy. It has spider webs woven into it and it's the tiniest thing! I love it and have it displayed under a small glass dome.... Marva
ReplyDeleteDonna,
ReplyDeleteI love the nests. I groom my dog and always put the cut hair out in the back of our property in a wooded area. I often will find dog hair in nests I find. I'm off to the post office with a goodie for you!
Debbie
Those are great nests! I'm sure that you're going to come up with something wonderful to do with them. I like putting all my pieces of floss out in the spring for the birds and then seeing if I can see a next with pieces of the floss in them. It's amazing what they will use to put their nests together.
ReplyDeleteI just love hummers - they fight in my yard over the feeders - so fast - so beautiful - so tiny - I can't imagine how small the nest must be
ReplyDeleteGreat find :)
I can only imagine how tiny the nests must be. I have never seen a Hummers nest and never have been able to get them to come into my yard..I gave the feeders away and will just try Flowers they like when I get moved. Please hop on over to my blog and check out my special sale to build up my moving fund and also donating part of the proceeds to P A W S to help save pets and find them a rorever home.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you do with the little nests. I will be checking back to see if I am one of the winners in your wonderful give away :)
Oh my goodness! How lovely they are. You are so lucky to have them. :) They are just so wonderful! Theresa
ReplyDeleteThe June/July issue of Birds & Blooms is just filled to the brim with hummingbird features. I read it on the way to Dallas today, as I was getting behind on my issues. Those nests are just cute as can be. I can just see those little nests filled with the smallest of acorns!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
What sweet little nests! One time I had swept some of my yarn scraps out the door and it was so neat when I noticed them intertwined in the birdsnest above our porchlight. We received your sweet thank you note today. That was very nice of you. Have a great night! Twyla
ReplyDeleteThese are just so precious, love the dog fur woven inside! I can't imagine how tiny the babies must have been!
ReplyDeletexo,
Debra
What a rare and treasured fine - a hummingbird nest is indeed a special gift of nature. Lucky, lucky you!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is - like WOW! How have I not been here before. You have the most incredible talent, the most beautiful photos, just a beautiful, beautiful blog - and your husband is not bad either! (Just had to sneak that last one in - he is indeed a handsome guy!)
Thank you for visiting me - I am so thrilled that you did. Actuallt - that someone with your talents would even spend 5 minutes on my blog just blows me away. I am honored. I am so happy to have met you -
I can't wait to spend some more time here!
Vicki
Oh Donna...these are the ultimate works of art aren't they sweet friend?! I treasure each and every one I have....hugs and love, Dawn
ReplyDelete