Nature Where I Live: San Francisco: Patience of Job

Female Hummer on Karo Tree

I'm still using the best guess from Plant Net to identify these Pittosporum species, and this one comes up P. crassifolium, its common name being karo, not kohuhu.

My first title for the above photo was going to be "Mama Hummer on Karo Tree," but my reference to the Biblical character Job in the title of the post is about the loss of her babies. Unfortunately, she is a mama no more.

After such a windy storm, I didn't want to wait until next week to walk past the nest to check it out, so I biked over there today. The nest was easy to find again, but sadly it appeared to be empty. I looked for the babies on the ground below but didn't find them, and although it's possible that at least one of the two is dead in the nest, the nest is too high for me to get a look. While I was peering up at the nest, the hummer swooped down as if to feed her babies, but no beak came up to meet her own. Later I photographed her perched high in the karo tree, facing the gusty winds.

As for Job, the story goes that his neighbors say he must have angered God to lose his children and his wealth, but Job knew he had done nothing offensive, and eventually he built up a new family and new wealth, which is probably what the hummingbird will do. Job, like hummingbirds, was realistic, resilient, and resourceful, as well as patient.

As I type these words I'm listening to the Big Bear Eagle Cam in another window. Sleet has been pelting the eagle, making a sound against its feathers like a small fire of burning sticks. Thunder peeled, twice. Talk about patience, stoicism, resilience, and resourcefulness. I read that only one in ten eagle chicks survives into adulthood (i.e., five years of age), but the eagles persist even against those heavy odds.

Check out that little "dust spot" to the right of the tower.

The "dust spot" was these three guys hauling up in an open-air elevator.

Today's walk took me through West Portal, where I finally gave in and bought some of George's Donuts & Merriment, but I'm waiting until my wife gets home (and after dinner) before I try them. I was glad to see the nesting band-tailed pigeon was still in good shape after the stormy weather. I couldn't see any babies for sure, but it did look like she was sitting on more than just the nest.

Annie of Forest Hill, Basking in the Sun Between Rain Squalls
(With A Coast Redwood In The Background)

I beat that squall line home, but I was just heading out the gate with my bike when it arrived. Not wanting to get wet right out of the gate, I waited about half an hour for it to pass, then headed out.

It's nesting season again for the great blue herons. This one appeared to be hunting gophers but was having no luck. I stopped to photograph it with the forget-me-nots.

While I was watching the heron, this Townsend's warbler showed up in a nearby oak tree. Here it's taking a brief break to catch up on some preening.

Preening Townie & GBH On A Mission

After preening, it got back to business, catching a freaky looking caterpillar.

Golden-crowned Sparrow in Pokeberry Bush

"Sunny Allen" at the Bison Paddock

Although Sunny was back in his usual spot, there was no sign of the tree swallows swooping around the neighborhood.

View Toward Mt. Tamalpais From Cliff House

The Sunset Parkway Hummingbird Wanting To Feed Her Babies

Orange-crowned Warbler in the Karo Tree

The mama eagle was well-covered with snow when I checked this morning.

She decided to get up and shake it off a little while later.

It didn't take long to get covered again.

Papa returned to the nest this afternoon, with a dead coot in its left talon.

Mama didn't want to eat some old coot, so she took off.

When she returned with a partly eaten fish, she immediately tried to take over the sitting duties again, but papa (with an icicle on his beak) wasn't too keen on giving up his spot.