Date: 09/06/2021

Number: 1

Our dear little resident ruby throated male, Sparky, has embarked on his journey south. I last saw him on the afternoon of Monday, September 6th. He was in his usual perch on a dead branch on a Zelkova tree, guarding one of the feeders in our front yard.

The previous day, Sunday, the 5th, he interacted with me in a manner that he never had before. I was out by the Zelkova tree in the morning before going to church, tending to the other bird feeders. I stopped for a bit to look for him. He flew to a branch quite close to me, along with one of the female juveniles, and they both just sat with me for about 10 minutes. This was very odd behavior for Sparky. Normally, as soon as I would round the corner, he would take off and watch from a different viewpoint. And it was also very unlike him to allow the juvenile to sit with him/ us. Needless to say, it was an extremely special time for me.

Sparky is very dear to me. This was just our second summer here and Sparky was new to us this year. From the day he arrived on April 18th, he made himself known and I was able to watch and enjoy him many, many times each and every day. My husband and 2 yr old daughter also grew to love him. Josephine, our daughter, asks about him every day. I told her that he is on a long journey and will be back in the Spring. She now says "Sparky on trip, Mama?"

We already miss him dearly and pray that he has smooth, safe, and pleasant travels and will be looking forward to his return next April. God speed my dear little Sparky and all my other sweet hummers.

My only regret is that I don't have any photos of Sparky or my other hummers. I'm determined to be prepared and waiting for them all next year with a camera ready to capture their beauty.

Kernersville, NC

Latitude: 36.1 Longitude: -80.1

Observed by: Sophie
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