Greta and her littles

Initially when I first saw this hummingbird family 10 days ago, I thought the babies were about 10 days old. I’m pretty sure I was wrong. I’m guessing now that they were only about 5 days old. That would make the baby hummingbirds 14 days old in these pictures. How ever old they are, they’re adorable.

Since the moment I first saw the hummingbird nest and photographed the itty-bitty babies, I have been thinking about them wondering how they are doing and how big they have gotten. I wished they were in my backyard so I could see them every single day, but they are not. So, today, wanting to do something a little magical with my own “littles”, I decided to pack up some lunches and take another road trip to Southern Minnesota to see how the baby hummingbirds were developing. After all, how often will the kids and I know exactly where a hummingbird nest is?

When we arrived, we walked across the grass and stood near their tree. Looking up, I could see movement and two little beaks. I couldn’t believe it! I was so excited I could see them peeking out over their nest. They were moving their heads and using their tongues, and, they had feathers. Their mama came to the nest a few times to feed them, and my experience was just as enchanting as the first time I had seen this incredible mama and her two babies. I smiled, and though she is not my hummingbird, I named her Greta. And I thanked graceful, beautiful Greta for letting me watch her and her two littles feed and nap and fly in the sunshine. And I watched my own two littles feed and play and fly around in the sunshine. Before long they’ll be ready to take flight. Two little miracles. Finding their own way.