Monday, June 25, 2007

06.24.07 HUMMERS


It’s dangerous to sit on the front porch these days. The hummingbirds swoop and buzz about like tiny Harrier jets jostling for position at the fueling stations. They energetically shove each other out of the way like hockey players. They chirrup and threaten and bully. We are very fortunate hummingbirds aren't any larger than they are! We only have one species of hummingbird in this part of the country on a regular basis, the ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris. But it is a dandy with a bright red patch of feathers which it can flash "on" or "off" as it feels the need. One wonders if even this color behavior is bellicose as well.

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