I just sent a D mail to Susie asking about the 3rd egg.

Here is the photo of the two babies and the new egg.

Linda

awwww I hope this works out quietyard

Amazing situation! I've watched a hummer nest grow up... lots of energy coming from those babes. The egg may get knocked out. I sent the pic/link to Susie. I don't think she's habitual about checking in but she will.

Thank you for the assistance Susie ! Dahlianut forgive me for high jacking your site here ! This all started with your beautiful flower !!

Linda

Evolution.

Tis all about the joy dear quietyard AND I'm big about birds

I can see by your avatar, the sophisiCAT, that you're big about birds!
Very cool.

You're just so everso jealous of my beautious purple updo Aguane. So sorryfull but what can I say. I have a beautious purple updo. t'is what t'is
Maybe dwell on the cacti factor. I am cacti challenged AND you are not

ps: just kidden as always everso

I have giant cactus in my front yard. 20 ft tall. I let them be. I must share they are a HUGE source of joy for my feathered friends. HUGE, I don't care for the cactus but I maintain them for the feathered children. Very fun watching them flutter, nest, dodge, feed. Difficult as it is to accept.... the native do their thing IN their thing... so my pleasure to watch them do their thing. @cactus.

Dahlia, I am excited to see your gardens spring to life! We have some things coming up... clematis have started their march toward the sky, bleeding heart is busting out, daffs and crocii are up and blooming! Wooooo hooooo!

I know you start lots of things in your greenhouse, DN, but I wondered when you start the dahlias? I don't have a greenhouse, but I can start them inside. I remember that your dahlias are always up and blooming way before mine, so I'd like to get a head start. Is it too early to start them inside now?

Interrupt this programming for a comment on the hummingbird egg.... Birdlady_Susie says:

"I would agree on the new egg might not thrive, even if it were to hatch from being sat on by the new babies and the mom. It will help hold heat in the nest, I have Lady Gouldian finches that have done this and successfully raised the last baby, even though it was sooo much smaller than the others. In some birds, the urge to be successful in raising young is very strong. Of course in raptors, the bigger babies will usually kill any late hatch babies, food competition is so strong. One just never knows what can or will happen."

Susie would love an update on the egg should something happen. Of course, something WILL happen, just what will be the surprise!

Thanks for the message from Birdlady Susie. I did a google search today and found out that sometimes several females share the task of building the nest and use it communally. It said the nest can stretch to accommodate the eggs.

Today both Mom's have been sitting on the nest. My theory is that the second female that has been hanging around laid this third egg when Mom # 1 was off the nest. Now she sits on it and Mom #1 feeds the babies as the other bird is sitting there. They had a big fight this morning then seemed to settle down and both sat on the nest. It is cold and rainy here. I am attaching a photo taken from inside our bedroom showing both females on the nest. The picture is not real sharp. They will not let me photograph them when I am outside but it does clearly show both females on the nest.

Linda

Wow, facsinating!

Wow, I've never seen anything like that...

I have never heard of 2 momma birds sharing the same nest before!

Dear Brenda you can start the dahlias inside now if you have a really sunny window. They tend to get leggy inside and develop weak stems if they are inside too long though. Do you have a hot sunny spot outside that's +70 during the day? If you can put them outside during the day and bring them in at night they will be stronger.

Not quite 70+ yet, but getting close. I think I'll wait another week or two, and then follow your suggestion. I have a lovely south facing window seat type window, however my dogs think it is *their* spot to look out at the world. They are known for knocking plants off of it while jumping up there to see who or what is out front, LOL! Thanks for your help!

mi mi mi
♫Here we come
Sprouting near the street
Get high fives and smiles from
everyone we meeeet
HEH HEH we're the crociiiiii.....♫



We're supposed to get snow over night and then sun so I'll try to pictify them when they are open against the snow tomorrow