Four quarts of nectar were being consumed by The Holler Hummers in 48 hours. But now, each two quart bottle of nectar, has it’s own lethal enforcer, who will attack any hummer who tries to feed. So one hummingbird controls 2 quarts of nectar!
The most lethal enforcer is the guy above. You can see he has a malformed beak that he may have gotten in one of his many battles. He is like a capitalist robber barron, hoarding riches he will never be able to consume.
Here is enforcer number two. Both enforcers have visble differences from the other hummers, the beak malformation in number one, and number two is the only black chinned hummingbird at The Holler.
The other hummers snatch nectar when they can, but most have given up and go feed on the flowers. I think they are the smarter ones. Who wants to waste all this energy fighting?
All the hummers who do attempt the feeders are intensely leery of attack from above.
They are constantly ready to self defend!
I understand that hummingbirds need to feed constantly because of their hyper-drive metabolisms, but I don’t understand how all this relentless attacking is adaptive for them as a species.
They remind me of human governments that hoard resources and launch vicious attacks for control. I wonder why they, and we, can’t all just share and get along?
Cheers to you from The Holler’s sometimes too “human-like” hummers~
Tag: Anna’s Hummingbirds
Teeny Tiny Birdie Feet~
I evaluate hummingbird photos by how clearly I can get the feet in focus. If the face is in focus, but the feet are blurry, then the photo doesn’t make the cut.
Besides I can’t believe their birdie feet. They are miniaturized, engineering marvels.
These tiny birds who weigh less than a nickel, have impressively functional feet.
Check out this guy with his landing gear engaged and ready to lock on!
Right now the hummers appear to be miffed.
I moved their feeder so it would be more in the sun for photos, and they are balking about using it.
It’s a hummingbird standoff.
If they refuse to use the feeder for another hour, I’ll move it back.
Cheers to you from The Holler Hummers, who, of course, are always in charge!
I am just their feeder filler~
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Holler Homecoming Hoedown~
The wild critters seem happy we are back at The Holler. They staged quite the homecoming! Even Wiley E. came out in broad daylight, sashayed by, and winked at me and I have the pic to prove it!
Look how fat and healthy he is! I don’t even want to think about what he’s been eating. He’s not too shy is he?
And what big teeth you have Mr. Coyote! This is a different Wiley. Possibly a Willette. We have lots and lots of Wileys and Willettes at The Holler.
Beep Beep is always content snooping around us. He is a hobbyist human watcher. He doesn’t even pay attention to Wiley E….. Smart Beeper.
The shy little woodpecker even dropped by to say hello!
After six years I have finally learned to make a credible hawk call. I called, they came. Or maybe they were just flying by. But I think they respond to my call and it confuses the ravens too. They keep looking for the hawk on the ground!
And of course The Holler Hummers. I miss them so much when I am away.
Europe is incredible but they don’t have Wileys or Beeps or Hummers. Wild animals just make the very best neighbors. I like having them on my HOA!
And The Holler? Well it is rural, rustic, and in a horrible drought, but even so, it is awful purty.
Cheers to you from all the happy Holler critters~
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Mortal Combat!
Notice the hummer spearing another in the head, amazingly I have never seen a hummer seriously hurt from the sparring although I imagine they could be. I certainly hear the sound of their airborne impacts, and see the missing and displaced feathers.
This guy is waiting to spear the guy from above who is about to attack him! Hummingbirds move incredibly quickly, but when they are in attack mode they move at warp-speed.
You can see evidence of the airborne impacts in the ruffled feathers.
Some seem disproportionately harassed.
Others position themselves for advantangeous attack!
The majority though avoid the fray and remain untouched. I suspect their aerial evasion techniques are even more evolved than their attack skills. They are simply phenomonal fliers.
This is of course how I prefer to see the hummers! Peaceful and radiant.
Cheers to you from the occasionally bickersome, but always beautiful, Holler Hummers~
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A Holler Homecoming~
There are the flutterbyes flying. (Please click to enlarge)
Bees buzzin, flowers bloomin.
The Holler hummers,
are happy we’re home!
The drought has broken and the rain is falling.
Hawks are courting,
and looking for nests!
Where ever we roam, there’s no place like home!
And cheers to you from all the Holler happy critters, including us~
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Natures Jewels!
These are my favorite jewels! (Click to enlarge).
Whenever I go on a trip, I worry about the hummingbirds.
I am always relieved to find them hale, hearty, and bickersome!
How long can I force myself to go without posting about The Holler Hummingbirds?
Just about as long as my trip!
I can’t resist them!
Can you?
Cheers to you from all The Holler Hummers (and their dutiful human!)
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HHH! (Last Post on Topic for Awhile)
I wanted you to see the “Hordes of Holler Hummers,” not just individual shots.
Hummingbirds are quite aggressive with each other and constantly are in squabbles over the feeder. Here are some shots of them co-operating which is happening more and more, probably because no new hummingbirds have moved in recently. They are all “locs” now even the previously bullied “purple-throated guy!” You can see him in the photos below holding his own, but still not fully part of the group of Annas. He is a Black Chinned Hummingbird. The others are Annas.
We have about ten active hummingbirds that are locals in this part of our garden. Others are in the orchards. The guy with his back to you looking scruffy, is the juvenile that flew into the window. You can see he is doing well. His wing is injured but it doesn’t affect his flying.
Can’t resist a couple singles…..
Pretty little guys aren’t they?
This will be my last post on Hummers for awhile as I realize not everyone is as captivated by them as I am! When I am a really old lady, I promise I will not have hummingbird tchotochkes covering ever surface my house! But….. I already have hummingbird hand towels and coffee mugs, so maybe I shouldn’t make too firm a promise!!
Thanks for bearing with me. Heading off to Anza Borrego Desert State Park now and should be posting from there soon. Cheers to you from The Holler & have a great weekend!
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Hummingbird Haven!
This bird is looking up anticipating an attack from above.
This one is also anticipating a volley from above. It always happens!
Can’t resist the hummingbirds. I have other stuff to post but I keep getting distracted by the hummingbird antics. Plus you seem to like them too, so, what the heck, I posted some more. They are incredibly fun to hang out with. They dive bomb each other, and their aerial feats of daring do, and in air squabbles, are great fun to watch. They incorporate me into their games by using me as a human shield to escape their foes. It is quite entertaining. Plus they never seem to actually injure each other.
This one got on the feeder wire to pounce on whatever foe dares to come feed. Pretty hilarious. They fly at super fast velocity when engaging in these games and constantly buzz inches from my head at intense speeds. Sometimes I involuntarily duck, but they never hit me. They are not just sweet, pretty, ornamental birds. They are intense aerial fighters.
This guy in the above photo is the one I misnamed as blue throated. You can see he has a purple throat. He is the non-local that is experiencing harassment, but he is getting far more assertive. Don’t you think he looks a little cross? I confess to interfering to the point of standing next to him at the feeder so he can eat in peace. What can I say? I dislike bullies and always go for the underdog. He’s gotten a lot of nectar. He needs to keep up his strength! Plus now he likes me and let me take a lot of photos. I know, I know, I am a really bad human, bribing the hummingbirds for photo-ops, but there it is, naked greed at its worst. Plus check out the pics! LOL.
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After they have a battle, they retreat to the nearby trees to recover and plan their next assault. The purple throated one always squeaks at this time. You can see him hiding below.
Cheers From The Holler Hummingbirds!
