Black Chin vs. Rufous hummingbirds [View all]
The black chin male who took over my hummingbird feeder early this year really displayed for the females. For eight weeks virtually every time I went outside he was at it. Mesmerizing high dives and lateral sachets early in morning until evening. He’d buzz dive me, too, screaming from behind and missing my head by only a few inches. Quite a prolific little fellow. His hatchlings fledged (will there be more?) and last week there were 5 or 6 sharing the nectar sociably, for hummingbirds I guess.
But occasionally after the solstice a rufous shows up and completely bullies the black chins. That happened this year about 4 days ago. He’s orange and fat and refuses to share. It figures. So I worry about the little black chins. This afternoon they joined forces and drove him back for a while. I was happy to see them feeding. But here comes rufous again. Quite a drama. Honestly, it’s difficult not to anthropomorphize him.
It has rained three times these past three months for a total of about ten minutes. The river is the lowest I’ve ever seen. Some communities are rationing water. We’re on the edge of apocalyptic drought I fear.
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