Date: 07/24/2023

Number: 12

This is my buddy, Sparky. He is our summer resident dominant alpha adult male Ruby who has been with us since Spring of 2021. He arrives in early April and heads south early to mid September. He "owns" our front yard from up on top of his perch of one of the cherry trees that we are able to observe from the our front windows and porch. He and I have bonded through the years and he zooms up to say hi to me when I'm out tending to the front gardens and feeders. He will also patrol the backyard as well. We have 2 other adult males (Sprite and Maverick) who share the backyard and they are quite aware of Sparky and vice versa.

During the Spring into early Summer, Sparky quickly apprehends any nesting mama who visits his flowers and feeders and then usually proceeds immediately into the mating U dive/dance/flight. Now, as we are into mid summer and there are juveniles out and about, Sparky and the other adult males, chase the youngsters and vice versa non-stop. Both the front and back yards are full of constant hummingbird chitter chatter from morning to night.

My estimate of 12 is a conservative number. We have the 3 resident adult males, many Mama hummers, and lots of juveniles. I'm now seeing sometimes 4 in a row chasing one another like fighter jets. I love Sparky and all our other sweet hummingbirds- they are such an incredible blessing 6 months of the year!

**The photo is compliments of our friend, Paul Nielson, who spoils us by allowing us to see our bird and critter friends up close and personal. It's such a treat to me.

Kernersville, NC

Latitude: 36.1 Longitude: -80.1

Observed by: Sophie
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