Male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have left our area after fulfilling their duty to the species. The females and the young ones remain and they are as active as ever, requiring me to refill their nectar feeder more frequently. This may be because the male is no longer guarding the feeder and chasing everyone away. Or it could be because they are fueling up for the long trip south at the end of this month. There is one female who now fulfills the feeder guardian role, but I think she may not have been as diligent.
Over the past several days, I tried to capture photos of hummingbirds in flight around the feeder. Because they beat them so fast, 53 times per second, their wings will always come out blurry, at least for me. Here are some shots from yesterday in mid morning.
Female Hummingbird
Female Hummingbird
Female Hummingbird
Female Hummingbird
You will probably notice the tiny feet on these birds. They cannot walk on them and can only use them for perching on a feeder or on a branch. I just took the following photo early this morning.
Female Hummingbird on an oak branch. This is where she keeps an eye on the feeder.
