Date: 09/21/2022

Number: 1

I apologize for the late report This is one of the 2 later babies It was trapped under the same overhanging stepped roof of my neighbor’s apt building for hours Over the same walkway and seating area that the returning adult male very purposely buzzed under and navigated easily to greet several residents upon his arrival this Spring before heading over to my deck and feeder to give me the same eye-level notice They do often explore and get confused in the maze with limited sight lines But the neighbors love them and have a action plan that’s worked for many years just to raise a broom behind them to guide the trapped bird back under each roof dip and out No contact necessary as they are fast mostly trusting learners But I got a frantic call when neither that or a fan helped The baby was frantic beyond reason itself Left alone it had hit the corner so hard that the feathers on its head were so ruffled a contusion seemed likely
I brought my feeder suspecting to find a familiar bird But it didn’t take advantage to refuel and settle We 2 humans sitting and speaking calmly did get it to rest more easily But it was another couple of hours before it could safely get caught in a thin pillowcase and freed
I took my feeder back home among the flowers where I believe 1 of 2 resident males and a migrant still battled 1 resident adult female and I believe her 2 youngest at least
That evening as I relaxed inside for the very first time a hummingbird came close to a lower window pane for excited examination Since I’m used to them checking in from the panes above I’m pretty sure that was acknowledgment from the same baby we’d spent almost 4 hours trying to calmly communicate with
Please bear with me as I add to this essay: I’m more convinced than ever that the dominant male which took over and didn’t concede when the females arrived was born here in 2020 and learned well from mom’s example for 2 years He chose the same plant stake for a roost even though it’s not the tallest and behaved differently with me than his rival I’d fretted the reigning brooding female hadn’t made it back until finally deep into July one bold noisy nosy little lady joined me while I deadheading zinnias I know it was her But she still deferred to the new King
Also related: As long as the boys were the predominant users of the nectar feeders A good rinse and air drying kept them clean But from around 08/01/22 when females and young got one added they had more chances to use the ports often needed special cleaning Keeping in mind that they most often could only get away with nectaring from perimeter potted flowers spilling over the deck mostly cultivators Salvia, Cuppea, A curassavica, Native and not mixed mints, Eastern Columbine…. A 12’x150’ strip by the drive gets mowed maybe twice a year and divides a wildflower field-woods and grazing meadows A fresh flush of Goldenrods White snakeroot Field Thistle Tall Ironweed and more seemed to bloom just in time for the last stragglers and young to put on weight during plunging temps
My observations, with, and without magnification, of their limited feeder use dodging 2 males and watching them feeding over the seasons on abundant natives invasives and my mix in pots and the ground bring me to the conclusion that at the established female has a very dirty mouth Literally For the week or so after adult males and 1 other had gone ports were darker every other day

Crittenden, KY

Latitude: 38.8 Longitude: -84.6

Observed by: Jypsi
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