A hummingbird neighbor.
Bai Yun has a new neighbor in her enclosure, and it’s not a Sichuan takin. A little hummingbird has taken up residence in the elm tree in the left-hand enclosure of the main exhibit. I first noticed the small bird, called an Anna’s hummingbird, yesterday as she was collecting some spider webs to make her nest above where I was narrating at the Giant Panda Research Station. A guest told me that he watched the bird fly over to the elm tree and pointed out her nest site to me.
For collecting webs, I have named the hummingbird Charlotte. Bai Yun doesn’t seem to be taking any notice of her new neighbor. Charlotte is a vigilant guard over her nest, though, and has been chasing away birds that are more than twice her size that come near her branch. To find Charlotte’s nest, look at the branch of the elm tree in front of Bai Yun’s cave. On top of the branch that is hanging lowest (and is cut on the end) you will find the tiny nest.
I hope Bai Yun doesn’t mind a little company during breeding season. For now, she is sharing the spotlight as photographers are also snapping photos of her small green-and-gray avian companion sitting on a nest.
Michelle Penick is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous post, Thinking of Spring.
Spring at the SDZ
Thank you for sharing where the nest is!! I will be visiting next week with two Great-Nieces and If Bai and Gao are napping, I will show them the nest 
It sounds like a good location because I don’t think Bai will be climbing up to investigate…Yun Zi might have attempted tho!
Bai Yun is lucky to have such an interesting neighbor. Perhaps they can share tips on child rearing!
What a awesome story! : ) I’m sure Bai Yun won’t mind having company, she’s such a sweet bear!
I’m thinkin Bai is gonna be a gracious hostess, unless this bird takes a liking to her bamboo stash.
So sweet, thank you Michelle, I’m sure momma Bai loves the company. Everyone loves company of all sorts!
I thought you were going to say Gao Gao was her new neighbor!
I have had the good fortune of having a hummingbird like Charlotte nest in my wind chimes on several occasions. She got very comfortable with me being near. In the cold nights she would fluff up really large to protect her eggs, and if it got too hot she stood over them to shade them. When the nest has survived the winter, a bird would return to it in the Spring – do a little repair and then move in. What a joy.
Maybe the hummingbird mommy is a good sign for Bai and Gao to have a successful mating this year. Not that they need any inspiration!
Hummingbirds and Pandas…2 of my favorites! I have forgotten why we aren’t seeing much of Yun Zi or am I just missing him?
Moderator’s note: Yun Zi is in back areas that just have just a few cameras; he is not always in their view.
Thanks so much! I thought I had read that he would be “out of view” for a bit but just wanted to check. I knew he couldn’t have grown as much as either of the Pandas I was seeing. I just LOVE your pandas and am praying for another baby to come along. Does the San Diego Zoo have an App for an IPhone?
Moderator’s note: We have an iPhone app for Elephant Odyssey. It will be available in a few weeks. Here’s more info…
I am afraid that the situation may be on the contrary, the hummingbird thinks that she is the landlord of the elm tree, she will be unhappy if Bai Yun comes close to her nest.
This interesting scene happened two year ago when Zhen Zhen was resting on the top of a tree, a Black-Throated Magpie claimed that this was his territory, demanded Zhen Zhen to leave !
Here is the link of the inetresting video in youtube ( Zhen Zhen vs. Blue Bird ) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjVYp6i5R3s
LSK, thank you so much for sharing this link! Too funny!! As one commenter said: ” Cub – 1, bird – 0″!
The Japanese Pambassador Yumiko Kajiwara visited the Adventure World in Japan yesterday. She posted a blog about her visit yumikaji15(dot)blogspot(dot)com/2011/03/beautiful-pandas-wakayama-adventure.html
The Adventure World has 8 pandas; you can read all about them on her blog which has also lots of pictures and videos of the pandas. You can also see her videos on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/yumikaji#p/u
Yumiko also wrote that she will be back at the Adventure World on the 10th and 11th of March, so stay tuned.
I think Bai Yun will love having a little birdie near her. Just make sure Yun Zi doesn’t try to find the little birds though. I can’t wait to hear more. I LOVE PANDAS!!!!!!!!!!
As long as that beautiful little bird doesn’t like bamboo, I don’t see a problem. I would rather have a hummingbird in Panda Canyon than a snake.
Charlotte: Hey, Ms Bai Yun, how are you doing?
Bai Yun: Helloooo, getting ready for the arrival of little ones?
C: Yes, and I can hardly wait.
BY: No wonder you are singing all the time!
C: I can’t help myself, I love to sing and hum, ha ha ha.
BY: Sometimes I feel like singing too.
C: You should, its really fun.
BY: Oh, I don’t have a good voice…..
C: Everyone can sing! Let me teach you.
BY: That will be fun. I would love to sing a special song for Gao Gao.
C: Mr Gao is fun guy. I flew by him yesterday and he was lying among the boo napping.
BY: Hee Hee, my Gao loves his boo and his naps. Your nest looks great.
C: Thanks. It is an ancient pattern passed down through the generations.
BY: Neat.
C: I am hoping in Spring I will have 3-4 young ones so I need to build a really nice big one.
BY: Can I help? My claws can help unravel the webs.
C: Hey, that is a good idea, you can help me get some webs to strengthen the nest. Then I can start to search for some flowers. I am hungry. I need some nectar.
BY: You should go ask my son. Yunnie is a flower child. He knows where all the nicest flowers are.
C: Ok, I will. I am off now. C ya later, Yummy Mummy.
BY: Same back at ya, Lotta.
That is such a cute blog. Maybe they will go through the next couple of months talking about how full and productive their lives have been. Until the little one(s) take up all their time. Yes I am beinging positive about both of them. That’s just me.
Unless Bai Yun starts wearing a big red bow (hummers like the color red) around her neck, I doubt the hummer will even care!! Adds a nice touch to the Giant Panda blog:)
This blog is so sweet! Oh, the serenity and charm of Panda Canyon.
This was such a cute story! Thank you for sharing, Michelle. Hopefully Charlotte will still be in her nest in a couple weeks when we come visit! I’d love to see her. I have many,many hummingbirds that visit all year.
Wow. Seems surprising the little hummer would choose space with all the activity of panda canyon. But then maybe Charlotte wants a front row seat for 2nd annual panda convention?
How neat to have a double treat at Bai Yuns place.