Hummingbirds

Good Morning!

Today I would like to share some of my personal observations about hummingbirds. 

We have a feeder hanging in front of my dining room window.  Each morning the first thing I notice during hummingbird season are my little neighbors teaching their baby how to do aerial reconnaissance. 

He is hard to see but he is the little blur on the right side of the feeder 

Mom and Pop swiftly get a few sips of sweet nectar while waiting on Junior to notice they have stepped out of the nest for a bit. 

Some mornings they have to go insist their young offspring come join them, other mornings he seems eager for the day’s program. 

Most of the time Junior looks like he’s either just rolled out of bed or maybe he is rebelling against Mom and Pops rules on good grooming – he’s a little scruffy looking. J

Somehow he manages to pull himself together each morning and he takes a seat on the learning perch, more formally known as a wire that used to hold another feeder.  After flicking his wing feathers a few times, and coming to attention he is ready for guard duty.

Ah, now we can have some fun!

Mom and Pop take turns flying up to the feeder then hover for a bit and pretend to get a drink.  Junior is supposed to notice they are there and try his best to send them on their way,  without losing any of his daily rations at the feeder.  Sometimes they appear together and the young guardian has to make a choice, he’s getting better at these games, but at times the adults lose him somewhere in mid air and return to the feeder before he does.  

It doesn't take him long to catch up and he quickly re-joins the chase as soon as he sees them.  Mom and Pop are doing a great job teaching their little man his role!

I've watched this game for quite a while now, and just this morning noticed that Junior has become quite polished and well groomed.  I will be sad to see him leave the nest, but maybe next year he’ll be back with young of his own and I will get to see the process all over again. 

I hope you enjoyed your visit, have a really lovely day!