Monique Rea hears soft peeps coming from inside a small basket on her kitchen table and knows itÃÂ¹s time to feed. Ã As she lifts the lid, two nestling hummingbirds half the size of her thumb, lift their heads with open mouths.
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'They're always hungry," says Rea, a hummingbird rehabilitator from South Orange County. Ã She feeds the rescued birds every 15 to 20
minutes throughout the day using specially formulated nectar through a long-tipped syringe, stopping at sunset and picking up again as the sun
rises just as the mother hummingbird would have done.
Rea estimates the nestlings to be about two weeks old by their size and development of pinfeathers. Ã They've grown substantially since hatching from
their Tic Tac-size eggs, she says. Ã As hatchlings, hummingbirds are about the size of a black bean, black-skinned and featherless. It takes seven to
nine days before they can open their eyes.
"Babies always have a better chance with the mother and should stay with her as long as possible," says Rea who has rehabilitated hummingbirds as a volunteer in her home for nearly 15 years.
Instead of rushing to rescue a hummingbird bird, she suggests observing a nest continuously for 45 minutes to determine if the birds are in fact
orphaned. Ã Don't take your eyes off the nest because hummingbirds are exceptionally fast, flying in to feed and flying off in a matter of seconds.
And the length of time a mother stays away from the nest increases as the nestlings grow into fledgling stage. As baby hummingbirds grow, it becomes more difficult for a typical brood of two to fit in the golf ball-size nest. Ã
If you find a baby hummer on the ground, itÃÂ¹s safe to return it to the nest because the mother will continue to feed. Ã If the nest cannot be located, construct a substitute nest from a section of egg carton or strawberry basket lined with tissue. Avoid fabric or cotton balls which can catch on their tiny feet. Ã Anchor it in a tree near the original nest and watch for the mother's return.
Allen's and Anna's hummingbirds are currently nesting in Orange County. You can watch a local nest via live webcam at phoebeallens.com. Phoebe is a Channel Island Allen's Hummingbird, which laid her current clutch on April 11 and 14.
For advice on orphaned or injured hummingbirds, call the Pacific Wildlife Project in Laguna Niguel at 949-831-1178 or the Wetlands and Wildlife Care