Thanks so much for your posts and pictures, Bev.

And I'm afraid we may have sad news. When I saw your post that Tweet had been away from the nest for several hours, I checked Eric's blog and found a new entry named Tough Times:

This week has been a rough week. I have had a hard time getting the webcam up and running but finally threw enough money at it to get it to work. Tweet is sitting on her nest but I question her sincerity. She may be sitting on a dud. She was off the nest for a few hours this morning and we are getting close to when it should be hatching. It was laid before the snowstorm and she was completely buried in the snowstorm. Apparently there was a tunnel to her nest created by her flapping her way out. I am concerned that it may be dead. Regardless, I continue to hope for a miracle, as we all do.

It wouldn't be surprising for any nest to lose eggs in a snowstorm - and it must be harder for an inexperienced adult to keep the egg warm and dry. I'm also reminded that the initial posts about the nest describe the eggshells as being less rigid than those of most birds - which might make them more vulnerable to some conditions.

I don't actually know, but it's possible that Tweet would normally feel some movement or something in an egg this age, and when that didn't happen, her instincts told her it was time to move on and start work on the next nest.

I know this has been a very hard week for Eric. I'm hoping we hear from him over the weekend with a bit of an update - and I'll try to check his blog occasionally to see if there is additional news.

Thank you Judy B... i was wondering the same thing my self...i was just about to check Eric's Blog when i saw your post... when Tweet was gone so long yesterday i was concerned about the egg being viable.... we were happy that she was alright and had retuned to the nest.... today it appears she is gone longer..... Eric had a hard week and it is disappointing when you invest so much into something..

I do hope Eric is not too downhearted!
He did very well to move the camera across to another nest, to keep the interest going!
Let's hope that Tweet will build again!

Hi Pat..I agree...
3:27pm
No sign of Tweet... nest is empty

4:30pm
The cam is shut down...
Tweet has been gone since 11:30 am this morning...
4:31pm
I checked Eric's blog .. no new report there..

I clicked on 'Read More'
It looks as though he is trying to get another up and running nest!

I am also searching the woods nearby for nests. I have identified four hummingbird territories, but three of them turn out to be male territories. I did hear one mama signal to her her chicks that lunch was being served. It's a distinctive chirp chirp chirp. I need a sunny Saturday to investigate and spend a few hours to narrow down the location.

And on his facebook - there is a photo of Snowflake - doing well at WildArc

Thanks Pat for the update

5:41pm
Looks like Tweet has abandoned her nest


I am going to sign off now.. Good Luck Tweet .. hope you are safe and getting food a plenty..

Saturday.... March 12, 2011.
11:15am
I checked Eric's Blog and there are no new updates there....

Nest is empty.. as far as i know Tweet never returned..

ETD

MONDAY MARCH 14, 2011..

Link to the latest update ..Eric's Blog

http://www.hummingbirdsupclose.com/blog/i-found-one

5th April 2011
Eric seems to have got two nests under view!

"We are watching daily videos of two hummingbird nests. Blossom is feeding Precious, her only chick, and Rosebud is still sitting on her eggs."

I asked him for some details to start the Live Cam page off again - just waiting for reply


Link to the video loop


A feeding