I'd heard the distinctive zip of hummingbirds through the yard, so in early May I hung a new feeder near the front porch. I was so pleased when it was discovered that very first day. They've been coming every day since, zooming in and out of the yard. Thinking I'm hidden in the shadows of the porch, I slowly raise the camera to catch a shot. Each time I do, they disappear until the camera is put away (I've taken photos of every flower in the vicinity while patiently waiting for them to return).
Finally, oh finally!, I got one:
It's Calypte anna, Anna's Hummingbird, a permanent resident here in the northwest. I'm amazed seeing their display dive in the yard--the male flies a hundred feet in the air and then zooms straight down at nearly 60mph. They spread their tail feathers at the bottom of the dive to make a distinctive squeak. All to woo the ladies.
I could go on spouting hummingbird facts all day, but I'll get to my point.
Given their camera shyness, I was surprised when one flew right in the house this week. It was befuddled by all the windows in our dining room, trilling and pecking its tiny bill against each pane of glass, before finally giving up and perching on a high curtain rod to assess the situation.
I opened the french doors wide and tried some gentle shooing to no avail. Eventually, I did the thing that made the most sense--I hung a feeder from the chandelier and left it alone. Soon it had zipped away back outside.
So Ole, I said, what do you think of hummingbirds?
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| Oooooo! |
Indeed. We've thoroughly enjoyed our new bird friends.
