Hummingbird Pictures from 2007

[holyoutlaw]

My "integrative project" for the bird class at Antioch is to go through all my bird photos, adding tags and information whereever possible. I keep thinking of bird photos I've posted here or there, and the other day remembered these three hummingbird photos from ArtCon in 2007 (Art Widner's 90th birthday party).

So here ya go.

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte Anna) feeding at Mexican Sage (Salvia leucantha) bush


Here is an article about Mexican sage. It was planted all over Gualala, and each bush had at least two hummingbirds feeding at it. It flowers in autumn, which makes it a great late season food source for hummingbirds, butterflies, and other animals and insects that drink nectar.



Male Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte Anna)


Here is an interesting article about how the male Anna's Hummingbird makes a sound with its tail feathers. When a bird produces a sound without using its vocal tract, it's called a "sonation."


Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte Anna) feeding at Mexican Sage (Salvia leucantha) bush


I took a short walk by myself one morning. I encountered this pair, actively feeding at the bush, then flying away, then making angry sounds at me. At first I tried to rush, zoom in quickly, take as many pictures as I could. But I soon found that, maybe paradoxically, it was best to slow down, let the birds come to me, be patient as I watched them. This at least made it more fun, as I could hear their wingbeats better, hear their angry chittering "Get away from my bush!!!" sounds.

As I say above, there were a lot of these bushes in Gualala, and each had a couple hummingbirds feeding at it.

All: September, 2007
Gualala, CA