Keeping up with the Hummers

We've been visited by hordes of hummingbirds the past couple of weeks, and despite having the feeders just outside the windows, they have proven to be difficult photographic subjects. I've tried shooting through the window, tried the camera on a tripod outside using a remote camera release and I'm still not happy with the results.

We figure that with the cool weather we've been having, the Hummingbirds aren't finding much other food. Some species spend their summers in the high alpine, but that part of the world is still covered with snow. So, for the time being, they've taken up residence in the trees not far from our two feeders.

We get 3 species of these little birds here: the Rufus, the Calliope and the Black-Chinned. It's been a source of endless amusement to watch their antics around the feeder. There are times when there are nearly a dozen hovering around, stacked up like jetliners waiting to land at La Guardia International.

With this cold weather, the flock is emptying each feeder nearly every day, but they still seem to have the energy to put on their mating displays. Some things are just too important to put off, no matter what the weather.