Anna's Hummingbird

Female Anna's Hummingbird

I wanted to share with you our hummingbird magic at El Presidio.  The hummingbirds have headed south except for our year round residents.  These were hummingbirds raised at El Presidio by their parents.  She sat and waited for me to get home and change the nectar.

I can stand literally inches away from her because I was with her when she hatched from that egg.....or during that crazy monsoon storm when they all hovered around me during my lightning photo shoot.  Her brother also flies near me and hangs around while I change the feeders.  He's not as trusting but he hangs in the air only inches away from my face sometimes:)  I always smile at their lack of patience.

If the feeder is low, they'll sit on the branches early in the morning and wait for me.

I'll be setting up a 3rd feeder again and I'm hoping no one steals this one.  Over the past year, we've had human attacks on 2 hummingbird feeders and one on the regular feeder in the courtyard.  A glass feeder was shattered, another stolen, and the regular seed feeder was yanked out of the ground.

But for the most part, these Anna's hummers have a nice life here on the property.  Protected.  Safe.  And secure up in their oak trees and other secret places that only their gardener friend knows about:)

This male Anna's was taken at Ramsey Canyon this summer but I wanted to show this guy again to help ID if you come and visit Arizona.  We have two males living on the property at El Presidio.  This past year, we had two active nests.  What will this year bring?

More to come....

Flashdance!

This movie is rated "R" for "Right on!".
It's about a male Anna's Hummingbird finding his way in the world and fighting for his place among all the other hummingbirds.   It's about a hummer getting picked on by others for having a girl's name.  Will he make it in this hummer swording hummer epic?  Stay tuned for more. Please remember to silence your phones during this movie.  And remember we have some wonderful wonderful sugary red slushies at the concession stand.  It's a stand out favorite for you hummingbird fans on these hot summer days.

Male Anna's Hummingbird

Summer matinee continues tomorrow!  PBS is also howing a special on hummingbirds this week. Check your local stations in the US for this special by Nature called "Hummingbird Magic in the Air" .