Description

My resident female Ruby-throated Hummingbird always kept a cautious distance from me, until the fall migration season. Her male offspring had just left and suddenly other hummingbirds were showing up at the feeder. I had no idea these hummingbirds defended their feeder from outsiders. While I was changing the feeder sugar water one day, a fight ensued around my head, and for some reason after that my resident hummingbird began hovering over me every day. So I got the idea to use a florist flower tube. I covered it with red electrical tape and filled it with sugar water. She came right down and began drinking from it while I was holding it. And believe me, it’s not easy holding that in one hand and trying to focus my camera with the other hand. The second time she landed on my finger! The most thrilling 5 seconds ever! I did this with her every day until she migrated. I can’t wait till she comes back this spring.

Category

Week 15: Hummingbirds

Species

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Tags

• ruby-throated hummingbird