It looks like the hummingbirds have join the ranks of the other summer birds that have headed south. It has been a couple of days since I had a lone hummingbird tanking up on sugar water before making the long trip.
Last to Leave
Picture of the Day for August 23, 2023
The hummingbirds and the orioles were frequent visitors at the sugar water feeders today, as it was another hot and humid day and they seemed extra thirsty. But the hot day didn’t stop them from fighting and chasing each other off so it wasn’t often that more than one hummingbird was drinking at the same time.
Finally Sharing the Feeder
Picture of the Day for September 13, 2021
The young hummingbirds are stocking up on sugar water before they start their migration trip south to Central America.
Filling Up
Picture of the Day for September 8, 2020
I bet the hummingbird I saw at the feeder this morning was wishing that it had left already instead of huddling on the feeder in the forty degree weather.
Drinking in the Cold
Picture of the Day for August 26, 2020
Although the month of August isn’t over yet, some of the birds have already left for the season which signals the approach of autumn and then winter. The oriole, grosbeak and wrens sounds have vanished from nature’s orchestra but the chips and fast buzzing of wings are still present for the moment. Although the ruby-throated hummingbird males seem to have headed south already too and they can fly over 1,200 miles without stopping. The juveniles and females leave a little later but soon they will disappear too until next spring.
Waiting for Departure
Picture of the Day for May 27, 2020
Last evening during the rain, three hummingbirds were peacefully sharing the feeder for several minutes until a fourth one showed up and chased two away. One remained behind for a few more drinks while the others continued in the chase. Today I had one guarding a feeder and would chase any approaching hummingbird, even though she wasn’t drinking herself. She perched about ten feet away and kept a constant watchful eye for any other hummingbirds encroaching her feeder.
On Guard
Picture of the Day for September 12, 2016
The one hummingbird seems to be giving me the evil eye, probably since one of the feeders was empty and so they were fighting for spots on the other feeder.
Hummingbird Upset
Picture of the Day for July 20, 2013
The cooler dawn ushered in a very vocal choir of birds this morning although the hummingbird just added some ‘chee-dit’ and buzzing to the mix. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird, which beats its wings about 53 times a second, is eastern North America’s sole breeding hummingbird.
Scientists place hummingbirds and swifts in the same taxonomic order, the Apodiformes. The name means “without feet,” which is certainly how these birds look most of the time. The extremely short legs of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird prevent it from walking or hopping. The best it can do is shuffle along a perch. Nevertheless, it scratches its head and neck by raising its foot up and over its wing.
In 1980, the hummingbird, known as “the bird of hope”, became the official symbol of the International Diabetes Federation, partly because of its association with sugar, and party because of its association with control and precision.
And this guy certainly had the control and precision to chase away any other hummingbird that approached the feeder he was guarding.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
