A Treat this Morning.

The air is cool and dry with a slight hint of smoke. The window next to me is open as I sit and think of the day ahead. Suddenly a swooping buzzing sound, then two then three sound just outside the screen. The culprits? Three young ruby throated hummingbirds, all trying for a snack at the 4-flower feeder. They chase and swoop, occasionally dipping in for a quick slurp then off on the chase again. All at once the three of them settle the dispute and each take a perch and have a long and hopefully satisfying feed. Then off again, chasing.
It reminds me of kids at a park or beach, chasing each other is a seemingly random game, not of tag, just of chase. Well, after all, these birds are kids after all. I suspect that their “games” are not so much for fun as for strengthening little wings for the long migration just ahead, and testing out the idea of territory control. They seem to waste so much energy in the pursuit of each other I wonder how they ever store enough fat for the flight to Central America. All but the latest hatchlings do store enough fat for the trip, and those late arrivals try to tough it out on the gulf coast until spring. In cold winters they usually don’t make it.
Hopefully these youngsters are old enough to go south, really south, and will be back next year, swooping and buzzing around my windows once again. Bon Voyage guys. Watch you backs.
Image: http://lancaster.unl.edu/images/GuessIt/september/sept11_big.jpg