Date: 07/29/2023

Number: 16

Taken by our friend Paul Nielson, this is a nice photo of our Maverick, one of our 3 adult resident male Rubies. Maverick was just a baby a year ago, but he quickly took control of half of our backyard, including a large patio garden, as well as a woodland garden too. We were so happy that he returned this year and immediately resumed claim to his flowers. We learn our Rubies individually according to certain behaviors, such as their perching preferences.

He and our other 2 adult male resident Rubies have been extremely busy the last few weeks as the juveniles from the first nests of the season are out and about and testing limits and territories. I watched Maverick for over an hour working very diligently defending his flowers and feeders from countless numbers of juveniles. The other 2 adult male resident Rubies, likewise, have been observed daily doing just the same in their territories. Interestingly, every once in awhile, it is obvious they need a break as well. During the heat of the day, when most of our birds seems to lay low for a few hours, I caught my sweet Maverick resting in some shade on the branch of a fir tree. He chattered with me for a bit to let me know he was there and probably to say that he has had enough of the juvies!

The Mama hummers are busy back on their nests with their 2nd set of eggs/babies.

Thank goodness, we are supposed to cool down here slightly this week, with temps finally dropping under 90 for the first time in I can't remember how long. We continue to pray for some much needed rain.

Kernersville, NC

Latitude: 36.1 Longitude: -80.1

Observed by: Sophie
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