She Is Not Shy
Each year her poses are getting better and I now know why.
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHYPHOTOGRAPHYHUMMINGBIRDBIRDS
This image has been added to all of the PRINTS galleries.
Last year was no exception to a new backyard “rule of thumb” that I just learned about. Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds do not necessarily return to the same exact nesting sight, but at least seventy-five percent of the population return to the same nesting area each year. Over the last five years, a female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird has become much more fearless of our presence. Now I know that this is only an assumption of mine, that this is the same female returning every year to her familiar nesting area, but my observations seem to confirm this assumption. And at least once a year, usually when I least expect it, she will “pose” for me.
I have successfully captured butterflies and birds in flight. But I have yet to achieve my goal of capturing an image of a flying bee about to land on a flower, that I am happy with. May this year be the year that I am successful. I was trying (once again!) to capture bees landing on catmint flowers when this hummingbird announced, “Showtime!” She came rising up out of a patch of bee balm and was just doing her best and loudest hummingbird “chirping” when I looked over and spotted her. She was about six feet away as she started hovering in place and continued forcibly vocalizing about “something”. She was probably telling me that I was too close to “HER” bee balm and could I please move, but it felt like she was trying to tell me that this was my chance to take her picture, so I better hurry. She did not spook or stop what she was doing when I pivoted and pointed the camera at her. Her reaction was to slowly rotate from our left to our right while hovering in place and to continue vocally “expressing her opinion” about something. After about thirty seconds of this interaction she was done and flew off. I do not believe that this would have happened if she was not comfortable with me or the area. And the best part of the whole thing is that I captured some very good images, like the one above that I am proud to share with you.
The hummingbirds are back again for the season. So, I now have all summer to test my theory that this is the same female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird coming back again to nest. My first impression is that she indeed did come back again for another nesting season with us. It’s unfortunate that I do not know how to book this hummingbird lady for a photo shoot. So I will just have to keep my calendar open and my camera ready. If or when she wants to pose for me she will let me know, because she is becoming less shy about it with each passing year.