Hummingbird Adventures #6

Right now it's "camera envy". After I get a better camera, THEN it will be "skill envy"...and "patience envy". I could have more patience if I were willing to wait for it...LOL!

I have a question and didn't see the answer anywhere...why are hummingbirds banded?

Beautiful pictures!!! I've got 'all of the above' envy. LOL

These little guys are just a few days old and they live in a bouganvillia right outside my front door.

WOW!!! Now that's a close up! Aren't they cute?

Weegy, I took this answer for you from the link to McLaughlin Natural Reserve-

"The banding program thus provides information on migration routes, breeding success, population trends, and habitat use. If some species are found to be declining, data from the monitoring program will be used to guide preservation. At some of the monitoring sites, additional information is collected for research on genetics or behavior, depending on the interests of the banding team members."

Hugeprops, that photo is just precious!! The little ones are so cute, even though they're so homely at the same time.

A couple of Anna's.

Thank you Duc, I'd never heard of banding hummers so was just curious.

I think I must have the most posessive, territorial Anna's around. I have NEVER, EVER seen 2 on a feeder at once. As soon as a second one comes within 10 feet of a feeder, there's a battle---regardless of gender. I used to have only one feeder, so I put up more (widely spaced) thinking they could all stake one out, but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

That's usually the way here too imapigeon. I always get to feeling sorry for some of the hummers and will put up another feeder, but sometimes that can get out of hand too.

This is one of my older pictures that I thought you'd enjoy.

This little one just fell backwards any time another hummer wanted it to move from the perch. It got to be a very funny sight.

That's SO CUTE!!!

Awesome pictures all of you! I am enjoying this thread so much, if ever I get some time, I'll post some...I've been saying that for weeks!

Awesome photos duc, and thank you for the explanation of why the hummers are banded too! ^_^
sunny, love Mama Dot and the baby photos. Still haven't found any nests around here. Too much area to search.
Welcome, hugeprops, that is such a precious photo of the baby hummers.
I really have enjoyed looking at all the photos, from the upside down acrobat, to the hummers bathing in the water fountains. All of them make me smile.
Hope to have something to post soon. Keep up the great work folks. ^_^
WIB,
SW

I sat and watched my hummers right before I came in this evening, they are absolutely fascinating. Of course camera was not near. Saw two babies, they looked like moths!

Weegy, number one rule, never go anywhere (including different rooms in your home) without the camera!

Can't recall if I've posted this one, but you just need the light spray from your hose to see the hummers enjoying the baths. Hold the spray up to about your shoulder until the birds notice it and they'll love playing in it. This hummer also loved the wet grass.

I have sunnyg to thank for my interest in hummers since I visited her and got to see her last nest and babies up close :-)

I was washing dishes yesterday and out of nowhere, this hummer came up to the window and was very intent on studying me. I was amazed at how long it was flying around the window and peering in from different angles. Later when I was out in the yard, a hummer was hovering over me. Might have had to do with the bright blue shirt I was wearing, I'm not sure but it was pretty exciting.

As of yesterday, I am now the proud owner of both a feeder and a little fountain. We'll see if I can enitce more guests.

dee

Yup, Duc, the oriole was here on the hummer feeder and guess what....? no camera. I need to live by your rule!

Problem with orioles, you have to be in position. If they see any movement - poof! The other day there were FOUR orioles jockying for position on the feeder. Most action I've ever seen out of them. Of course, I was sitting down in the living room and if I stand up - poof! LOL Just can't win.

You're right Kaper, the best I can do is move ever so slowly when lifting the camera. So far, most of my pictures of the Orioles has been through the window.

I'm happy to hear you're seeing the Orioles Weegy. Do you know if they're the Hooded (black down the throat with a yellow head) or the Bullock's (black head down to the back? I've got both here, but they pretty much stick close together.

Exactly Kathleen, although this oriole didn't poof when we moved, had I had that camera, perfect shot. Typical!
I think the one I saw today was a female, she didn't have the wonderful color that the male has. I also think the male is the one with yellow head, will pay more attention. Is it true that the males are prettier than the female?

We get the Hooded here and the males are much more striking. Their colors are so sharp and distinct - the yellow next to the black. The females look more delicate to me, but are pretty in their own right.

The males I see here are GORGEOUS and flashy yellow---the females are a lovely soft olive-green. Both beautiful, but if you see them together you'll only look at the male!

Exactly IMA, the males are gorgeous. Such a beautiful black and yellow combo. They really catch my eye.

duc,
Loved the photo of the hummer bathing in the grass. I've often noted the same behavior with Hummers while watering.
Here is one I took the other day. Zippy had just fed, while I was getting the camera set up. Look at her full tummy as she is perched.

I do believe this is Sweetie Pie.

Zoom perched! Gasp, disbelief! Look close for his beak.

I am not sure who this is. His color was black not red. I watched him for a while and it didn't matter, shade or sun he was still black. I also noticed that he doesn't have the same markings on the back of his head. Maybe, it's the Trickster, but he was smaller. Hmmm.?

Another photo of the same hummer.

Last one that day. Zoom is definitely a red head, and his markings are different from the two photos just prior to this one.
WIB,
SW

Great pictures SW! I'm so glad all of you are as interested in these tiny creatures as much as I am. I'm glad you're naming yours too. I do that now and then.

We call this little one "grandpa" because he's always cold-like me-in the winter.

Can you actually tell your hummers apart?!?!!? The only one I recognize is the one that has the fluorescent pink on the neck. I think we have a couple of babies coming around too.

Hugeprops...wow! You have an awesome view of those little babies. Any update? Duc, beautiful photos, as always :-). I love the photo of all those hummers together, and Grandpa really does look unhappy about the weather. LOL. SW Trickster is giving Zoom a run for the money in the looks department...what a cutie and some great shots of the little tricky fellow.

Dee, great to see you here, and hope you get some more visitors really soon! They are so wonderful to have around. Weegy, I'm still waiting for your photos...LOL ;-).

Weegy, we had one here for a couple of years that I named 'Bumpy' because he had a bump in his bill. Very easy to recognize. The others, not so much, but once in a while they become familiar. Since one of the feeders is right in front of the kitchen window, I see them constantly and can sometimes find a feature that's good for ID.

It must be so fun to watch them right out the window like that!

Here's a video clip of mama adding a bit of fluff to her nest (don't blink or you'll miss that part LOL) http://s618.photobucket.com/albums/tt261/quique_2009/?action=view¤t=003.flv

Well, here's the best I could do today, the other photos were all blurry including the female oriole. :-(

And here's a not so good of the feeder guard, he runs everyone else off!

weegy, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with possessive hummers....I was beginning to think it was something I was doing!!!!

Oh no ima, it's nothing you're doing, this guy runs everyone away from the feeder. I would have more hummers in the yard if (gotta think of a name for him) would not run the others off, but I must admit, it's kind of cute and funny!

Weegy, that little meany is a cutie! I had a couple like that last year. Named one Buster and the other one Bud-just seemed to fit them.

A couple of Anna's.

Thanks Duc, yup he is an aggressive little birdy! He sits on that vine all day!
I am enjoying these hummingbird adventures!