[Leica] IMG: Hummingbirds

[Doug Herr]

The fall hummingbird migration has begun.  In addition to the resident Anna's Hummingbirds and summer's Black-chinned Hummingbirds, a visitor from the north appeared at my feeder yesterday, a Rufous Hummingbird, the first I've seen in my yard:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/selasphorus/ruhumm02.html

Hummingbirds feed throughout the day but dawn and dusk see the most action by far.  They wake up hungry all want to feed at the same time, and they use the last daylight to top off the fuel tank for the night.  Hummingbirds being what they are this results in bickering, jockeying for position and aerial battles.  I suspect that by providing fewer than one feeder per bird I've in inadvertently contributed to the warfare (think The Gods Must be Crazy).  OTOH, hummingbirds being what they are it probably makes no difference.

A half-dozen hummingbirds (three species) at dawn simultaneously defending their claims to the feeders is chaos; the alliances in the middle east are easier to understand.  Tiny feathered mites of fury posture, squeak their annoyance and dogfight at the least provocation.  I can't show the dogfights but here's some of the posturing:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/calypte/anhumm13.html
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/calypte/anhumm14.html

compare with a chillaxin' hummingbird:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/calypte/anhumm11.html
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/calypte/anhumm12.html

technical stuff: R8/DMR, 280mm f/4 APO-Telyt-R, tripod.  No blind needed, they'll take a sip from the feeder while I'm holding it.  All comments welcome.


Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com