We were fortunate to watch Phoebe, an amazing architect and the unfolding drama from a live
cam’s point of view. We were captured by her beauty and dedication.
A forceful rain and wind storm arrived the same time that her chicks hatched. The day and days
following her progeny pearl’s hatched was the beginning of the first 21 days of intense food
gathering and sheltering from the elements. Phoebe drank sweet nectar from the flowers and
caught tiny insects making a tasty meal for her young as well as for herself.
We were touched by the mother’s attentiveness and in wonder of how small her babies were.
Only three days after hatching one of her chicks died but Phoebe carried on with feeding her
remaining hatchling. We watched hours of each day the feeding of her chick. They named her,
Sassy. Sassy’s eyes haven’t opened yet but she instinctively opens her short beak for food when
mama whirls into the nest.
Sassy’s eyes open, her little head and body are bare. She’s eager to eat what Phoebe has for her.
We are approaching the second week of observation. There are only some wing feathers
emerging, no feather coat on her back or feather hat. There is expressed concern about Sassy’s
development but Phoebe is still very attentive and feeds her generously.
Serious concern has consumed the viewers. It’s the third week and Sassy has only developed her
wing feathers. She tried to preen her featherless back. She had fallen behind her scheduled
timetable to fledge.
It’s now a month since she hatched. This morning Phoebe has not returned for over an hour and
Sassy is calling. Phoebe comes to her call and feeds her once more.
Her rescue is paramount. Sassy is carefully removed from the nest and taken to a rehab center for
special care. The live cam views an empty nest and Phoebe visits to confirm that her chick has
fledged.
Following day, the news was sad, Sassy had passed away. Her short life intensely touched all of
us who watched from the day she hatched. Love and care were not spared. Phoebe was
determined but the timetable told her she must prepare for new life.
All who knew Sassy will always be grateful to her for sharing her life with them.
May her wings carry her into a hummingbird garden of nectar and forever be a jewel of nature.