Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Farewell My Little Flying Jewels...

I knew this day would come...
  it's all a part of Nature's eternal plan for the Universe.

Reason tells me it's a blessing...
for with every Fall comes Winter 
and with every Winter, 
a bitter cold these little jewels could not abide.


So they fly South to Mexico for the Winter.
But oh... 
how I'm gonna miss my Hummingbirds!


 Did I know that very morning 
would be our last photo shoot?

 
 And if I did, 
would it have been any sweeter?


 And how did they know it was time to go?
There were still blooms left to sip from
in my gardens.

Were the mornings getting too cold?
  

  I've learned that it actually has nothing to do 
 with the availability of food
or with the temperature
in fact, hummingbirds migrate south at the time 
of greatest food abundance. 


As Autumn approaches, the urge to leave is triggered 
by the shortening length of sunlight... 

 and when the bird is fat enough... 
it migrates.

This little guy is quite plump 
don't you think?

Yes, they were ready...
but I wasn't.



I've also learned that a hummingbird may retrace it's path 
every year as long as it lives.

This means I'll see my little Flying Jewels again next Spring...
when it's warm again.

I can live with that,
it really was getting cold out there every morning
sitting patiently
 capturing their frolics with my camera.

♥   ♥   ♥

Oh! 
For those of you who saw 
my delightful little slideshow
here's an update:


 Not only did they figure out 
how to sip the nectar...


 they also became 
quite territorial over it.


Naughty little fellers...
there's really enough in there for all of you.

Farewell My Little Flying Jewels!


*BTW, the Audubon Society tells us that in the Fall, 
we should keep our feeders up for two weeks 
after we see the last bird using it. 

As the hummingbirds migrate 
they'll benefit from the extra boost 
the nectar gives them. 



34 comments:

  1. What amazing photos! You are so fortunate to have hummingbirds in your garden for some of the year. Here we get excited about the arrival of swallows. Then we're sad when they leave, even though we know they'll be back next year. 

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  2. I wish Disqus would give me links to all my commenters so I could visit their blogs. Please leave a link in your comments. Thanks for coming, Gardening Shoe.

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  3. What wonderful photos of the hummingbirds!  They always lift my spirits :)

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  4. So nice to see you visit again, Ginny.  I've missed you! Hope you are well...♥

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  5. No hummers this year. I've only had a grand total of one in my garden ever, so I envy you all your sightings. I think hummers are unusual where I live (can't say I blame them). I did however spot a bat at my place this summer for the first time. I'll take what I can get.

    Christine in Alaska, snowy and cold

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  6. Ahhh... a bat. I'll bet that was interesting. Your snowy and cold Alaska is a wonderland of wildlife. I'd love to visit there.

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  7. Every time I think the hummingbirds have left here, I see another one in the morning.  But I know it's almost time, and I, too, will be so sad to see them go.  I love watching all their antics, even when they're fighting over the feeder.

    Gorgeous photos!  I have yet to capture one at my flowers; I guess I'm not patient enough.  They do love my 'Black and Blue' salvia, too.

    Thanks for the reminder--I need to go and refill my feeder now.

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  8. All good things must come to an end... already looking forward to next year! Thanks for visiting!

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  9. Ah, I guess I haven't seen any hummingbirds around here lately, either.  Though I did see a little white butterfly yesterday, though they'll probably all be gone soon as well.  Sad to see them go, but if they were always around we wouldn't appreciate them as much, right?!

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  10. I never saw them until the Black and Blue Salvia began to bloom.  Quite sure it's an annual here. This was my first time to plant it. I'll be planting it again next Spring.

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  11. Donna@Gardens Eye ViewJanuary 9, 2013 at 7:52 PM

    I have enjoyed following your hummers...how cute they are now proficient at the feeders..such cute plump little ones...farewell here too!

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  12. I only saw them at the feeders three days and then they were gone. I'd like to think I did give them a little boost before their long journey south.

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  13. RedHouseGarden BlogJanuary 9, 2013 at 7:52 PM

    Aw, I know you'll miss seeing them!  That's neat that they retrace their path so you might see the same ones next year!  They'll know how to use the feeder already :)  

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  14. I didn't know that birds retrace their path every year - how amazing ... so it might well be that it is the same little bird that has come back to my garden - a little sunbird - he's too beautiful. Your photos are beautiful Carolyn, love the hummingbirds. What do you put in your feeders?

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  15. So glad you came, Christine. I mixed up a packet of the nectar that came with the feeder. I would use sugar and water in place of that.

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  16. I'm really fascinated by the hummingbirds, such a beauties.  Well, we always want to see birds which we cannot have in our climate. But they certainly are the little jewels of your garden! 

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  17. Isn't that true that we always long for that which we don't have. Thanks for visiting!

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  18. Wow! So lovely photos. Hummingbirds are just cute. 
    Thanks a lot for the nice page.

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  19. Hello again Carolyn !
    Another name for the butterflies is also "messengers of the gods" .. I watch a lot of nature documentaries and love finding out these factoids ? Dragonflies are also fascinating .. I saw a few programs on them but I forget the ancient's descriptive names for them.
    Yes ! I did read about the quail family on your blog and thought it was amazing .. such sweet little souls they are !
    Joy

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  20. Thank you Joy... I love that header, too. You can read more about my quail in several of my Summer posts.
    As for the Flying Jewels, I discovered that is a Mexican name for them... translated, of course. I think it fits.

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  21. Aw, sweet! I noticed the hummers were extra active about 1 1/2 weeks ago, and I haven't seen them since. I never took the time to capture them with my camera, and now I regret it. :( Thanks for this great post and the reminder that they'll be back again next year!

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  22. Thanks for visiting, Beth. We've had such fun!

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  23. I am becoming quite fond of your humming birds Carolyn, perhaps you will have to set up another feeder next year.

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  24. THey are enchanting, aren't they Karen. And I do miss them.

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  25. Karin/Southern MeadowsJanuary 9, 2013 at 7:52 PM

    It is always so sad to see them go. They bring such energy and spunk to the garden. I know it won't be long before they leave my garden and every morning I go outside to hear their chirps and see them zoom by just to know they are still here. By the way, I have had hummers arrive in spring and go to the exact spot where my feeders are suppose to hang before I have even put them up so I know they were the same hummers that where here the year before. What memory in such tiny birds!

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  26. I agree, Karin.  I've observed that they are quite smart. They seemed to enjoy teasing me as I tried to take their picture.

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  27. Hello Carolyn girl !
    You have such beautiful shots of these jewels ... and yes they are living jewels in my opinion too : )
    They can have some vicious territorial fisticuffs though .. you would ever suspect such a tiny delicate bird could do what they do ! LOL
    Very pretty ... and I absolutely love your header picture : )
    Joy 

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  28. Loved the last bit...keep the nectar up for an extra boost!

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  29. Thanks, Becca. So nice to see you here. Do come again.  :)

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  30. That's good information, I have already taken mine down,  it was put up too late.  We were still busy with moving in, and never really got around to doing it.  But next year, I will have it up early, and leave it later.

    Sad post in a way, I can hear a forlorn tone in your words...and I wish you little jewels a safe trip.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  31. Thanks, Jen. I wish them a safe trip, too. I tend to go a bit overboard with my fondness for the little creatures in my gardens. I should mention that I just put that feeder up two days before they left on their journey. They've been crazy over my black and blue Salvia. for the last many weeks. 

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  32. We had more hummingbirds than ever before this year (though no pics, darnit), so it was even harder to see them go.

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  33. I wonder why there were more hummingbirds this year.

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