April 14, 2010. Double D Ranch, Texas. Hummingbirds.

Thirty pounds of sugar is what it took to feed the hummingbirds last season.  Twice a day, Robbie fills up the two feeders and by morning they are empty, while the birds fly over, looking in the kitchen window, waiting for their breakfast.  If Joyce goes outside before the feeders are full, these little birds fly all around her head and arms, hoping for more food.

This year, Robbie moved the feeders.  Now they hang right in front of the breakfast room window,   so when they eat a meal, they can watch the show.  Eight holes on each feeder, means eighteen birds on each feeder, as two drink from the same hole at the same time.  Others are waiting on the top or hovering just behind,  waiting for an empty spot.  It is an astonishing sight.  These tiny birds are aggressive, always fighting for their turf. 

Tonight at dinner with Joyce and Robbie,  we watched the birds all through the cocktail hour.   I could stand right up close to the window, and if I was perfectly still, they soon forgot about me and they came to eat at the feeder.  The birds are tiny, not even as big as your thumb, but they are beautiful.  From a distance they appear dark in color, but close up it is clear their backs are dark green, with black under their chin, at least for the males.  I believe they are black chinned hummingbirds, both male and female.  They are tenacious in search of food.  One day we will try and seek out their nests.  The most number of birds at one time tonight was thirty nine, all at or near the feeders.

The dinner was wonderful, but the birds stole the show.  They will stay around, consuming smaller amounts of food through the summer, until they depart in August or early September.  This Spring activity is amazing and I loved watching them from the window, one foot away.