The hummingbirds are now landing on my hand when I change the feeder. I have ordered a hand-held feeder, but have yet to determine how I will feed them and take pics at the same time! They tend to look at me quite directly as you can see in this and the next post’s photos!
Hummingbirds are one of the most aggressive bird species. They will attack jays, ravens and even some hawks. They climb to great heights and dive bomb each other at up to 60 mph!
The hummingbird above right is flying backwards away from another bird. Hummers are the only birds that can fly backwards. They can also fly upside down!
I have purchased a second hanging feeder to lessen the competition between the birds. I have heard and seen the impacts, but so far no bird has been injured, and they even co-operate at the feeder as you can see in some of these photos.
Hummer’s hearts beat at up to 1200 beats per minute!
But, they can’t walk or hop on their feet….
Their beaks are like rapiers and they are not shy about using them!
Hummingbirds often consume up to 2X’s their body weights in nectar daily! Cheers to you from Hummer Holler!
No I did not see a live Hummingbird,only your remarkable pictures.So answer,no I wasn’t stared at by a Hummingbird.I bet you were!
I wish you could come over to my house and make friends with the hummingbirds Ranu! They would like you as I do. Cheers to you~
A lovely collection. Particularly appreciate number five.
So glad! I have been working on the group shots. It’s hard to get all of them in focus, so thank you for likiing this photo my friend and cheers to you~
Yes, I think this must have been difficult to capture. Kudes for a job well done.
These are fantastic!!!
I daresn’t call you a prince Alastair, you prince!! I missed you and am glad you are back! 🙂
Thank you Cindy. I have been impressed with the welcome back I have had.
Gorgeous photos! My feeder is in the shade so I can’t ever get colors that true and crisp. You did a great job!
I am happy you like them!! Cheers to you~
Wonderful photos! I have one of a hummer landing on my finger in my garden. It was taken years ago.
It’s a very big deal isn’t it!! It’s like being accepted into the best club ever!!!
Yep, I loved it! My cousin had a lot of beautiful hanging flower baskets over his deck and those hummers were ferocious to each other. He’d have to rearrange feeders when company came.
They are ferocious at times!! I can imagine the unitiated might be alarmed by hummers flying at warp speed all around them!! Sounds wonderful to me though!!
Maybe video while you use the hand held? I needed two feeders, visually far apart.
Ooooh such a good idea.My husband has been reminding me to use video function. Great minds……… 🙂
Splendid photos of the hummingbirds! I personally have never seen them up close as in you photos! Fantastic!
I really hadn’t either until we moved to the holler. I think because people are so scarce out here, the wildlife is much less afraid. Thank you for you always kind words and thoughts~
You have so many of them!
Yes!! Two feeders need to be in place. I have counted ten buzzing around the feeder at one time~
Reblogged this on TALESBYCINDY.
So very kind of you Cindy!! Thank you. Great name btb!! 🙂
These are splendid shots.
I am so glad you like them. I have been nervous about posting too many hummers. I can’t get enough of them and am always learning. Now I am focusing on the group shots. Literally. It is hard to get groups in focus. I have one more post on groups and then I will lay off for awhile. The appreciation is most encouraging~
Thanks for the gallery of hummers–my garden is filled with appetizers, entrees and desserts for these fabulous creatures. This summer (with the abundance of rain) cardinal flowers were very tall indeed. While there are plenty of other flowers for tasting, they could not stay away, grazing all day. I’ve never attempted to still them, but as with your group, mine will find a place to sit for a short respite. My neighbor has a feeder and the battles do occur. I think that I’ll suggest another feeder. You’ve done a terrific job capturing them in this post and others. Again thanks.
Filling your garden with beautiful flowers pleases the hummingbirds, attracts butterflies and bees, and makes me (and you) happy!! Your garden sounds like one that I would love as well! I will keep you posted about the dual feeders. I read yesterday that two feeders can reduce aggressive behavior. I just think there are so many birds here now they need more nectar!!
Fantastic post. So glad you showed us the Hummingbirds again. Happy Pawkisses 🙂
So grateful I didn’t bore you!!! Thank you~
Hi Cindy , outstanding post.The humming birds are the wonder of nature.My wife and l watch them when they come to the blooming trees in the backyard.Thank you for liking the recent post.Have a beautiful day.jalal
Same to you Jalal and thank you!
Have I ever been! Yes especially the juveniles. They have no fear. One came zooming so close to my face. A very inquisitive young one and was I ever delighted. Humming with you.
Isn’t it magnificent!! It’s like little fairies playing with you. They like to whiz into my hair and make it flutter. It feels like angel wings. They fly so close they puff you with bursts of air!
Landing on you hand, wow! Looking forward to seeing the photos 🙂 These photos are gorgeous!
I was worried people would get bored, so thank you! Most appreciated~
Wow photography. You’re so talented!
Back to you x2 & thank you!
That is amazing that they land on your hand now. I am impressed!
So am I!! I feel like I’ve been accepted into their world a bit. It always happens later in the day, when I’m wearing a super colorful Mexican floral embroidered dress that I wear around the house. I look like a big bunch of flowers to them!! lol~
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This is so incredible. I think they have adopted you as a surrogate mom! This is amazing – think of how trust they have for YOU!
Awww. It is so lovely isn’t it. Wild creatures are so magnificient~
I remember either reading or watching a show where children (or a child) was greased up with butter and told to extend their arms and hands and stand still… and the birds soon filled their arms and stood upon their head. Lovely shots.
While I did see some Monarchs while traveling today was the first day I saw one briefly in my yard.
That will be tomorrow’s daily 😉
Oh, perhaps once you get that hand feeder you can set your camera to take some stills of you and the hummers…if you only use one hand to feed you can use (if you have one) a remote to snap the picture? I bet you could find a place to set up your camera. You do have a stand don’t you?
Oooh!! Can’t wait for the Monarch post!! And yes, I have taken photos of wild birds on my finger before. I just extended my arm, and pulled my right arm back as far as it would go and snapped. I think it will be harder with the hummingbirds though. Some people, including my husband are suggesting video. I think this may be the ticket but will take some practice. Cheers to you Jules and thank you as always for your kind words~
Yes, you definitely are…
…The HW!
Laughing……..still laughing!!! Hilarious!!
These pictures are full of joy. Love them 🙂
You deserve joy my friend! All the world has to offer you~
🙂 Thank you – and you too!
Yes, I have had the honor of being stared at by a hummingbird. And scolded because I was too near her flower pot with fuchsia. I have managed to get a few to perch on my finger while feeding … takes a ton of patience. Need a good tripod to mount the camera while waiting for them.
These little jewels are amazing!
I’m glad people understand how thrilling it is! There were 20 at the feeder tonight! I’m going to see if I can video them. It is amazing to stand in the midst of all these buzzing birds, with your hair blowing from hummingbird wind! I posted one wrong pic. There is a better shot of the one hovering in the air! Such fun~
I love them all!
Oh good!! Me too!! 🙂
Yup! And I stared right back at that critter from about 18in last summer. It flew right up to my face and hovered. 🙂 Hi Cuz!
Tonight they were landing on me again as I changed the feeder. I can’t wait to get the hand-held feeder! Hugz to you cuz~
Will have update #5 coming up soon…!
I was just over at your blog looking for it…….not that I’m nagging or anything!! lol! can’t wait to see!!
Wow, it’s amazing how many hummingbirds visit your feeder. I bought a hummingbird feeder several years ago–but I don’t think that any hummingbirds ever found it.
Tonight I counted 20!! I need the new feeder to get here quickly. They drain the current one twice a day. I think it is because we live in place filled with orchard flowers and essentially no people. So sorry about your feeder. Perhaps songbirds with wild seed?????
Awesome they are amazing creators
I agree!! Thank you so much and seriously thank you for your so important blog. You know I am a big supporter of what you are doing~
No worries, I am well aware and thank you so very much for your support, I think it’s issues that concern us all, someday it will all be all worth it…cheers and lotsa luv to you and yours
I also would like to ask you to check out my new fundraiser at the top of B.P’s home page, thanx again and you have a great blog, one that I visit frequently, take care for now.
Same to you and I will visit your page. Cheers & thanks~
How awesome that the birds feed from your hand now. Next thing they will be teaching you to fly backwards and upside down. I quite expect that! Just remember not to listen to them when they encourage you to eat two times your weight in nectar. It might not end well!
Laughing…..still laughing!
I could probably eat twice my body weight with no instruction necessary from the hummers! The flying upside down part might be more of a stretch though.
Hilarious my friend and cheers ~
😀
Wow, you lucky thing! The photos are beautiful.
I do feel lucky to have so many of these guys accept me. I like being in their club!! Merci beau coup~
You amaze me at how sharp and clear you get these tiny birds Cindy I love your photos
I inadvertantly posted a wrong pic, so I am very glad you said this! You know I feel the same about you my friend and I thank you. Heading over to your blog now to see what you and Jack have been up too~
Hope you enjoy your visit down under…
Cindy, I have long had hummingbirds in my life and know I would miss them if they were not about. They do so enjoy lavender whether it is in California or here in France. However, I have never had one on my hand. That must have been a remarkable experience! Great photos as always.
I did get the hand held feeders today,so my next challenge is going to be photographing them while feeding! Cheers & thank you Lea~
Love em and I appreciate the variety in your area. Looking forward to hearing about the adventures with your hand feeder. Great pics, Cindy.
So glad you enjoyed them and I will post hand feeding once I master how to do it!!
Liebe Cindy ja die Kolibri sind schon fasenierende Vögel und dann noch der lange Schnabel einfach schön einen schönen Dienstag und sei herzlichst gegrüßt Klaus
Herzlichen GruB an Sie mein Freund & vielen Dank!
Great hummingbird captures, especially the first one. I didn’t know about their aggressiveness – interesting. And here all this time I just thought they were the happy monitors of the sugar water tray (which I understand we’re not supposed to use anymore). Nice. Ken
Yes. Their looks don’t match their behavior. It’s often that way! lol~
Thank you Ken and cheers to you~
wow, truly stunning cindy!
Very kind and very glad you like them! Cheers to you~
Wow, this is as awesome as it gets – they have taken you in as a member of their family! How cool is that! I still can’t get over their gorgeous colors.
I feel just like this, very attached to them! Thank you for “getting” this!
They’re definitely eyeballing you. Looking for a scrap, it looks like. Plucky little beggars, eh?
Definitely outsized personalities to go with their dimunitive statures!
Small man syndrome. All attitude.
I’m trying to imagine scientifically how they fly upside down. Do they do this with their wings stationary, while drifting on an air-current, or by pushing their wings downwards while moving upwards, or just flapping them at extra high speed and hoping for the best?
I drive my husband mad with questions like this, as I did my school teachers many years ago. Hubbie always says “why can’t you just accept that’s what is, and not have to know the minute whys and wherefores?”
PS You don’t have to answer my question, if you agree with my hubbie 😉
I love your question! I have a very enquiring mind and I always want to know also. Here is the explanation:
A hummingbird can rotate each of its wings in a circle, allowing them to be the only bird which can fly forwards, backwards, up, down, sideways or sit in sheer space. To hover, hummingbirds move their wings forward and backward in a repeated figure eight, much like the arms of a swimmer treading water. Hummingbirds can move instantaneously in any direction, start from its perch at full speed, and doesn’t necessarily slow up to land. Hummingbirds can even fly short distances upside down, a trick rollover they employ when being attacked by another bird.
http://www.humming-birds.com/facts.html
Second feeder? Expect more hummers and more competition. Nature works that way (if only we could figure this out regarding our own social conflicts).
Oscar
Good point. I’ll keep you posted on what happens. I expect that it will decrease competition, but we’ll see. Cheers!
who knew they couldn’t walk or hop? That’s an interesting fact I will always remember. And Cindy–i have to share this awesome baby hummingbird and rescuer video with you. It will make you smile a mile wide…:)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvrcdQWzH-8&w=480&h=360]
Oh the video is wonderful!! Thank you for sending it. They really are fearless for such tiny creatures. Awesome my friend! Thanks~
Super awesome Charron, so glad you shared here!
Beautiful pictures.
So glad you like them!!!
Liebe Cindy eine schöne gute Nacht wünscht dir Klaus und sei herzlichst gegrüßt:
Sie sind wunderbar Klaus! Danke~
I’d love it if a humming bird stared at me! Great pics!
It is very cool! Cheers to you. Hope you are getting some time off!
No time off right now, but a delicious promise!
Cheers to you, too! _Resa
You are the best Hummingbird photographer!! The lil guys are fantastic and gorgeous!! Hugz Lisa
Hugz and thanks back to you!
Wow your photos are fantastic, sharp and clear.
So happy you like them. Makes posting a gas!!
So precious that you have such a relationship with these beautiful birds. I truly enjoyed all of them, including your previous posting. God bless.
I am so happy you enjoyed them as I do. Blessings & cheers to you!
Your photos are simply stunning, and of one of my favorite subjects, too. Lovely.
I agree, the ‘group shots’ are hard to come by. I once captured three together, but the movement of one blurred the photo. So glad to see your lovely birds and to hear they’ll sit on your hand. Amazing.
To fall in love with hummingbirds is a life long love affair. So glad you share this & thank you~
So true, Cindy!
I truly have! I used to have a little house in Cupertino/CA which had a small atrium like patio. I had two big hanging fuchsia plants. I used to get frequent visits from many hummingbirds. I was never able to see them as colorful as I see them in these photos (why?). Birds and I used to startle each other quite a bit. 😀
There are different species, cross breeding between species, different color patterns in young and mature birds, and in males and females. The colorful ones you see here are Anna’s. So glad you had the experience of living close with these beautiful creatures~
lol…you have made more friends…good for you!
Yes, one thing we have at the holler are lots of critter friends….good thing I love them! 🙂
I have never seen so many hummers in one place. How do you manage to step away from such beautiful nature to get anything else done, LOL
Sometimes it is hard!!! I now have two feeders set up and I am going to need to take photos of them now…..lots at the feeder and less bickering! Cheers to you and thank you~
They are totally adorable! And the photos are beautiful 🙂 But these Humming birds…they don’t have any feet!!! lol 😉 Or at least they’re so cute and tiny they are almost not there! lol It does make them look very endearing though!
They are just remarkably beautiful and very tiny birds with very tiny feet!!
Would love to see a hummingbird fly upside down–hint, hint, Cindy. You are so blessed. Maybe someone can video you with hummingbirds on your hand. Thank you for the cool facts. {{{Hugs]}} Kozo
Yesp, I am working at it…….it’s going to take some practice though!! Cheers to you & thank you my friend~
yes, in Costa Rica last February… 🙂 wonderful…
You know how wonderful it is then! Cheers and thank you for all your kind comments!
Double-like! I don’t take your support for granted. I am so thankful for you, Cindy. And appreciate your meaningful writing.
Vis versa to you X2!!
I am jealous of them landing. Wow. How cool is that????
I love it too!! So glad you do also! Cheers to you~
I absolutely love the colour in your photos, Cindy. Just great pictures.
You are so sweet! Thank you~
You are so lucky..:-) lovely photos…
You are nice! Thank you~
Beautiful!
I hope you will video you with the hand feeder, maybe then take still shots from it?
I have no ideal if you can do that, I am still trying to figuring out my digital camera !
But I look forward to seeing more photographs!
Thank you for sharing…hummingbirds always make me smile..
Take care…You Matter…
)0(
maryrose.
I am just starting with the vide0 camera. I need practice. but i am working on it! Thank you for your interest~
Stunning captures and experience!
They may be aggressive to other birds but I find it interesting that they seem to easily trust the human feeder! 🙂
Yes! They buzz within inches of my face all the time and I have total confidence in them. They have earned it!!
Why yes I have and just recently, not only that but I have recently read of the same thing happening to others. I just wrote about the large numbers of hummingbirds in my Mesa, Az. backyard. I have never seen so many at the same time. I think its a good sign. Love your picture from the holler. 😀
Reblogged this on D.E. Cantor and commented:
Amazing pictures of hummingbirds from Cindyknoke.com.
I wonder how she got them to pose and look at the camera.
(JOKE, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DIDN’T KNOW)
I a honored and most appreciative! Thank you~
But if you are nice to a Hummy you can find ways for them to eat out your hand or my great grandma would put a straw in her mouth with sugar water and they would come drink from it:)
Just completely awesome!! Thank you for telling me. I will try it~
Reblogged this on Anything and Everything Possible 4 U and commented:
These are absolute marvelous photo’s. I love hummingbird’s and have been attracting them with plants now they nest in the bushes and suck the nectar from the plants will try and put up the plant that they so love. They buzz my head all the time when I walk out the door and have only been able to capture one as it was feeding on a feeder a few years ago. will try to find that picture as well.
Absolutely beautiful shots! I could learn a lot from you in taking pictures of these lovely birds. What camera did you use? Your shutter speed must be really fast. Gorgeous photos <3 Love it!
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🙂
We have a couple of Hummer feeders and I’ve had many instances of them coming up right in my face to stare at me. It’s a little bit intimidating! They’re so full of energy and life. I love them and am so happy to have them grace our garden..
Yay for hummers!
Steve
They like you! They do this to me too! They add a lot of enjoyment to life. Cheers & welcome too~
Reblogged this on LIVING THE DREAM.
Thank you kind friend 🐦
The title of your post reminded me of a line from “To Have and Have Not”. Walter Brennan’s character would ask strangers, “Have you ever been stung by a dead bee?”
“You know, you got to be careful of dead bees if you’re goin’ around barefooted, ’cause if you step on them they can sting you just as bad as if they was alive, especially if they was kind of mad when they got killed. I bet I been bit a hundred times that way.”
Bacall: “You have? Why don’t you bite them back?”
Brennan: “That’s what Harry always says. But I ain’t got no stinger.”
Laughing. Classic! 😉
Cindy, I love this post! Thank you! It’s beautiful!
Ahhh, I <3 people who <3 hummingbirds დ