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I Want My Mommy - TBN 2 (54)
loot
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5628 W: 730 N: 4145]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (11187) | White-bellied sunbird - Nectarinia talatala
The 2nd delivery in the "Touched by Nature" series.
Through the years we (my wife and I) had the honour of being the godparents of many young White-bellied Sunbirds without actually having the pleasure of seeing our godchildren. Friday evening this run of bad luck ended when we witnessed the mother coaxing one of the babies out of the nest and giving it, its first lesson in flying.
The little clumsy fledgling (±50mm) almost dropped like a stone and sat on the ground, wings trembling, and chirping for life and death. The mother kept on calling and jumping from branch to branch while every now and then she would fly away just to return with some morsel of food which she then gave to the baby. Eventually the young one built up enough strength and courage to start with some hop-flying sorties, each time a little further and a little higher. As evening approached he/she eventually made it safely back into the nest, but not before I quickly grasped the opportunity for this photo. The fledgling had no fear (a little brave heart) and came straight to me as I lied down on the ground to take the shot.
Please see the workshop for a view of the nest.
Description
Males: Usually brightly coloured, with green or bluish metallic sheen on the head, mantle and breast while the under parts is white.
Females: Coloured in dull greys and browns and is whiter below then most other sunbird females.
They have long decurved bills used to probe open blossoms or to pierce the bases of deep tubular corollas to reach otherwise inaccessible nectars.
Superficially similar to the hummingbirds although, they are entirely unrelated to them. Sunbirds will briefly hover at flowers, but they don't fly backwards as do hummingbirds.
Distribution
Found in southern Africa, Angola and Mozambique. It is a common resident inhabiting the eastern and northern parts of the region.
Habitat
It is usually in pairs and is found in woodland, riverine bush and gardens.
Food
It lives off nectar, insects and spiders.
Size
A small bird (11 cm).
Voice
It has the habit of singing for long periods from the top of a bush. The song is ‘chu-ee, chu-ee, chu-ee-trrrr’ repeated frequently and with various intensities by both sexes.
Breeding
July to December. They build oval, hanging nests with an entrance at one side near the top, often with a small canopy. The nest is constructed of grasses, fibres, dead leaves and other debris, and is plastered on the outside with spider webs and warmly lined with soft plant down. Both sexes tend the young.
Status
2005 IUCN Red List Category: Least Concern, (Evaluated by BirdLife International - for IUCN).
Source: "Birds of Southern Africa" by Kenneth Newman, Macmillan Publishers.
Camera settings
ISO setting – 400
Aperture – f/4
Shutter speed – 1/60
Focal length – 60mm
Post Processing was done with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0. |
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loot
(11187)
White-breasted Sunbird nest
Edited by:loot
(11187) |
Supplemental material to the original posting.
The nest is constructed of grasses, fibres, dead leaves and other debris. The outside is plastered with spider webs and the inside is warmly lined with soft plants and feathered down. |
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| Altered Image #1
loot
(11187)
Mainly sharpening.
Edited by:sunkirana
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 141 W: 29 N: 199]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif) (1141) |
Hi Loot,
Filtered some noise and sharpened the pic. Let me know if you like it.
Thanks, Kiran |
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