Monday, September 6, 2010

The Annual Hummingbird Migration







Here in east Tennessee the annual fall migration of hummingbirds is well underway. Each year I look forward to the first two weeks of September, when swarms of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive to fill their tummies with nectar, before beginning their long flight to Central and South America. Our gardens become alive with the flying little jewels, and I grab the cameras and go to work. Hummers are one of my very favorite subject, and I might add one of the toughest to photograph. To say they are fast....is an understatement. These little guys can move out of the frame in a fraction of a second. Their extreme territorial nature makes them almost impossible to capture with a camera, but after years of practice, I seem to have come up with a plan of attack. I love these birds, and I love the joy they bring to so many people around the world. Let's face it.......their Special.


1 comment:

  1. Dan, that second photo is nothing short of miraculous. I'm in NW Ohio and they're still feeding here, but I'm sure it won't be long and they'll be gone. :-( I rarely see a male, in fact, I've only seen two males in my life. All the rest have been female.

    Beautiful photos!

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