[obol] An embarassment of riches

[sandyleapt at comcast.net]

I'm so pleased I just had to share the experience.  (Crowing?) Yesterday there were six Anna's Hummingbirds in the bushes and at the feeder on the west side of the house.  Three adult males, two adult females and one immature bird.  I don't usually see them all together unless they are chasing in circles around the house.   I don't see the females often during the summer, but the three adult males have claimed year-round territory in my garden. I do have three hummingbird feeders up this year, all the hummingbirds prefer the feeder on the west side of the house but all use the ones in the east and front (north) gardens. 

One of the female hummingbirds has been in my garden every winter since 2000.  She's the one that got me started.  She showed up in December 2000.  I call her the "Matriarch."  The "Patriarch" is at the feeder as I type this.  He is the only hummingbird that will not perch when feeding.  The extensions on his gorget are so long now I would suspect a Costa's if I didn't know better.

My husband gently suggested this morning that perhaps there are enough hummingbirds in the garden.  He was buzzed by hummingbirds three times in the 30 to 40 feet from the front door to the paper box around 7:00 this morning.

Cheers!

Sandy Leaptrott
Northeast Portland