They're telling me that because they hatched on the morning of 4/29, this is their Day 9. Or so I infer, because their eyes are half open, their bills are dark and lengthening, and there was an adorable first wing flap (displaying short pinfeathers) this morning. Often when the mother's away, the bill tips are visible and vertical. And the chicks are starting to move and stretch the nest walls on their own.
Yesterday's rain and highs in the low 50's kept Mom on the nest more than she had been. Our hummingbird feeders were busy, with cold mothers trying to keep themselves and their nestlings fueled, and one territorial male. It must have been difficult if not impossible to find sufficient arthropods, but RTHUs have evolved to weather the weather, unless it's far outside the usual extremes.
Janine PerlmanAlexander Mt., Saline Co.
