Final Flurry & Fotos~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life

Of flying fairies.

It’s a bit tricky to take a photo and feed a hummer at the same time!

Most of The Holler Hummers are packing on calories now to prepare for migration.

Black Chinned Hummingbirds, like the one pictured above, travel to western Mexico or the Gulf.

Rufous Hummingbirds (above) have one of the largest migratory bird journeys in the world, flying up to 3,900 miles each year. Rufous populations are in decline due to habitat destruction and they are now designated a threatened species.

Some Anna’s hummingbirds stay year round at The Holler.

Responsibly maintained backyard bird feeders have helped vulnerable hummingbird species thrive.

They have brought dwindling population numbers up and expanded the territory of many species.

During migration, hummingbird hearts can beat over 1200 times per minute, their wings can flap 80 times per second, and they often fly alone.

Cheers to you from The Holler’s magical flying fairies~

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282 thoughts on “Final Flurry & Fotos~”

  1. I’ve only seen two Ruby Red Thouat’s at mine this year. It’s my first year to put the feeder out in years. It’s coming down to the end of migration so I keep hopeing to catch them at the feeder everytiem I walk by my kithen window. Love the photos.

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  3. We have a 2nd story apartment with a balcony. Our hummingbird feeder has attracted only one or two hummingbirds. They certainly are welcome here and I wish more would pay us a visit. We live in Georgia which is popular state for hummingbirds. Your photos are beautiful.

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    1. I would love to visit you and your hummers in Georgia! I have never been and would love to go. I have always wanted to see Savannah in particular and I cook and love Southern food! დ

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  6. What courage it must take for these tiny birdies to fly alone! Thanks, Cindy, for showing them up close and personal — I saw one just the other day but failed to get his picture!

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  10. I didn’t know they migrated! I suppose that’s because they never come here. In my entire life in Canada, I have seen maybe 6 hummers.

    Sweet post and wonderful shots, Cindy! Thank you!

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  20. “Ahh…look, fairy godmother is feeding us again. Let’s tweet our friends to come quickly!” Amazing shots as always, my dear friend ˏˏ₍•ɞ•₎ˎˎ₍•ʚ•₎ˏ₍•ɞ•₎ˎˎ₍•ʚ•₎ˏξ(｡◕ˇ◊ˇ◕｡)ξˏ₍•ɞ•₎ˎˎ₍•ʚ•₎ˏˏ₍•ɞ•₎ˎˎ₍•ʚ•₎ˏ

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  24. petespringerauthor

    Either I read somewhere, or you told me before that you live in rural California. We’re up here in Eureka. I see lots of Anna’s and Rufous around here. My dad was a wildlife biologist who worked for the Fish and Wildlife. We ended up in this area of the country when he became involved with the recovery of the Aleutian Canada Goose (subspecies of the Canada Goose.)

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      1. petespringerauthor

        We love it. I didn’t end up here until high school, but I’ve only moved away once for a year in the past 40+ years.

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  27. You have to wonder how the Rufous Hummingbirds could possibly pack on enough weight for their long journey. Impressive! And the photo of hand feeding the hummers is a delight, Cindy. –Curt

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        1. Well, I read Heather’s book and listened to her TED talk. She does consume excess calories and weight before she thru hikes. I’m not sure she did this on purpose, or just eats. She seems to not like life as much off, as on the trail.
          Good on her!
          https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/2019/02/national-geographic-2019-adventurers-of-the-year/heather-anderson-hiker/#:~:text=Heather%20Anderson%2C%20who%20goes%20by,2%2C655%20miles%20in%2060%20days.

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          1. The whole body weight issue is a challenge. That’s for sure, Cindy. It was fairly easy to deal with when I did my 10,000 mile bicycle trip around North America. It was eat whenever and whatever you wanted. Packing in calories was easy. When I did my 750 mile trip down the PCT two years ago to celebrate my 75th it was more of a challenge. I was using around 5,000 calories a day and consuming 1500, on a good day. Fortunately Peggy met me at the end of each week and I reversed the process for a couple of days. 🙂 Still, I came off the trail weighing less than I had since high school. –Curt

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              1. Just read yesterday that a woman just completed the Oregon section in 7 days Cindy averaging 57 miles per day. Absolutely incredible. I have friends who have done the 24 hour hundred mile races. Beyond my comprehension! 🙂 –Curt

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  35. Cool pix.
    The first on reminds me a jet refueling in flight ( the aviation idea must have come from this)
    But like the 3rd pix the best: the feather and feet details, the lovely neck color and the lines of bird and “J” chain so complimentary and lyrical

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    1. Wow. How coincidental. I was just discussing this, how hummingbird flight has been studied by entities like the US Air Force. Pilots and planes are outclassed by hummingbird flight. Thank you for seeing their lyrical magic დ

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  41. Wonderful photos. Today, I saw a couple of hummingbirds in the garden and managed to take a few pictures, but not as gorgeous as these photos though. 😊 But I have been waiting for them, and I was elated just watching them.

    Your backyard must be so special, you get a variety of hummingbirds. What a joy.

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  46. I love all the variations of reds and tans and browns on the little rufous hummer! Some of the others are more colorful, but the subtle variations on him are fascinating. Thanks for the closeups to really see these little guys.

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