They survived against all odds.
Last month, Reddit user GinnySleazy noticed something unusual — a tiny hummingbird perched on one of the string lights adorning her patio. At first, she assumed the bird was simply taking a break. But as the hummingbird kept returning to the same spot, GinnySleazy’s curiosity grew.
One day, while the hummingbird was away, she peeked above the light — and discovered a small, delicate nest cradled atop the wire. Inside were two perfectly tiny eggs.
“A hummingbird built a nest on my patio lights and laid two tiny eggs!” she shared excitedly on Reddit.
Thrilled and honored that the hummingbird had chosen her patio as a nursery, GinnySleazy also felt a rush of protective concern. As seasonal winds picked up, the string lights — and the nest — swayed with each gust.
“The nest has survived some pretty bad winds the last couple [of] weeks,” she wrote. “But I’ll be a nervous auntie about it when the babies hatch!”
Fortunately, hummingbird nests are marvels of engineering. Thanks to their construction from soft plant materials and spider silk — a stretchy, sticky substance used to anchor the nest securely — they can withstand surprisingly harsh conditions.
“The silk, which holds the nest together and anchors it to a foundation, is inserted into nooks and crevices to ensure attachment,” the American Bird Conservancy (ABC Birds) explains.
While a string light may seem like an unusual nesting site, it’s not out of the ordinary for hummingbirds. ABC Birds notes that these resourceful birds often build nests on thin branches, wires, plant hangers, and other human-made objects.
Sure enough, the nest on GinnySleazy’s patio held firm. Then one day, the moment she’d been waiting for arrived: two tiny heads peeked out from the nest.
“Update on the hummingbird nest: I’m a grandma!” she wrote joyfully.
Over the following weeks, she watched the mama hummingbird feed and nurture her fast-growing chicks. The tiny siblings grew stronger and bolder, preparing to leave the nest that had kept them safe and warm.
“My hummingbird babies are about to outgrow the nest!” she shared in another update.
Now, a month after their hatching, the little birds are nearly ready to take flight. While GinnySleazy knows it’ll be bittersweet to see them go, she’s cherishing every moment — and standing watch like a proud, protective guardian.
“I will protect them with my life,” she wrote.