STO RY A N D P H O T O S BY D E A N N A F R AUT S C H I When May arrives, it’s time to start thinking about the amazing Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that fly hundreds of miles to raise their families here. It’s always exciting to watch a hummingbird family grow from mom building the nest to sitting on the two Tic-Tac Mint size eggs for about two weeks until they hatch. As mom feeds her babies each day, it’s amazing to observe how fast they grow to fill and expand the golf ball size nest made from lichens, tiny fibers and leaf bits. The spider- webbing mom used to bind the nest allows for it to expand. As the fledglings leave it in two to three weeks, they are as large as adults. They almost fall out of the nest as they practice flapping their tiny wings. Once out, mom continues to feed them for a few days until they can find food on their own. (For more information and photos of hummingbirds here and elsewhere, join my Hummingbirds Anonymous group on Facebook which now has over 100,000 members.)
It’s never been easier to get from here to there. The beach is calling your name. Nonstop Bloomington flights to: • Tampa/St. Pete • Orlando/Sanford • Destin/Ft. Walton Beach
www.cira.com
May 2022 | Limited Magazine 15
Nature story
HUMMER TIME STA RT S I N M AY
