Bird problem

[Darold Petty]

Calling all ornithologists !

My garden is honored to host a nesting Anna's hummingbird, (Calypte anna).  However she chose an inconvenient spot about 5 feet off the ground in a narrow passageway in my garden.   My head would pass about 18 inches from the nest if I attempted to walk by to the far corner.  I have several important potted palms back there that are overdue for irrigation.   Every time I look, she is on the nest or feeding the chicks.  I know that hummingbirds enter a torpor state called estivation at night to conserve energy.  Would this be true for the female on the nest ?  Can I safely pass by without disturbance a few hours after dark ?

  I don't think my palms can last without water until the chicks are fledged.

Your thoughts, please !

[Silas_Sancona]

15 minutes ago, Darold Petty said:

Calling all ornithologists !

My garden is honored to host a nesting Anna's hummingbird, (Calypte anna).  However she chose an inconvenient spot about 5 feet off the ground in a narrow passageway in my garden.   My head would pass about 18 inches from the nest if I attempted to walk by to the far corner.  I have several important potted palms back there that are overdue for irrigation.   Every time I look, she is on the nest or feeding the chicks.  I know that hummingbirds enter a torpor state called estivation at night to conserve energy.  Would this be true for the female on the nest ?  Can I safely pass by without disturbance a few hours after dark ?

  I don't think my palms can last without water until the chicks are fledged.

Your thoughts, please !

Should be fine ( ..to pass under where she's nesting ) My sister ( In San Jose ) had one nest on the Ceiling fan in their patio room.. Obviously couldn't turn it on, but 7 people could pass through the room w/ out the female abandoning the nest.

Had a few nest in beams 7ft or so above where we'd keep the shade plants where i worked back there w/ out them moving when stocking / pulling plants on the tables below, or watering.. 

More likely than not, she'll just stare at you as you pass.. Can always test the idea by approaching the nest, but not passing it, and see how she responds.

Overall, they're pretty human- tolerant birds.

[amh]

Try to not make eye contact and look elsewhere while you pass by.  Mother animals are weird and usually relax if you do not look at them.

Also, hummers remember faces, so if you are a friendly, that will help.

[Darold Petty]

Thanks guys !

[Darold Petty]

Update, I was able to sneak by this morning while she was briefly away from the nest.   

[Absquatulate]

On 6/20/2023 at 11:44 PM, Darold Petty said:

Update, I was able to sneak by this morning while she was briefly away from the nest.   

Great!

[hbernstein]

Actually, she probably won't consider you as a threat if you regularly walk past and not look at her.

Edited July 25, 2023 by hbernstein
spelling

[Silas_Sancona]

4 hours ago, hbernstein said:

Actually, she probably won't consider you as a threat if you regularly walk past and not look at her.

While the " don't look it in the eye " statement might apply to larger animals, w/ hummingbirds ..and other birds honestly, that idea doesn't always seem to apply ..Hasn't been my experience at all anyway. 

I have hummingbirds here that will sit on a plant/ wire under the patio at times while the humans ( and Canine ) in the household are out there. Can approach them sitting on / feeding from the feeders ..within 2 ft w/ my camera and they rarely flinch.

A few will talk while i remove and re hang feeders, or even try to land on / feed from their favorite feeder while i'm hanging it..

My only wish is that my two other favorite Hummingbird  sps.. Broad billed, and Rivoli's were common up here.. Neither are afraid of people either and both are spectacular.  If they were, S. AZ wouldn't be the hot spot to observe both, ..up close.