Birding in Maine» HD Video

Fight of the Hummingbirds

John Briggs — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:31:11 +0000

While most of the birds that visit our backyards only defend a breeding territory, Hummingbirds are one of the few birds that will defend a food source. Just about anywhere that a Hummingbird finds food, it will fight to defend it even along its migration route to Central America.

The long drawn-out territorial fights can sometimes lead to injury or death, either from exhaustion or from the fighting techniques used by the aggressor. These delicate little birds will sometimes attack larger birds, such as Cardinals and even Crows.

Bird Photography: Hummingbirds Fighting

Wednesday was a beautiful day featuring bright blue skies and cool temperatures. I cleaned and refilled our ten Hummingbird nectar feeders and took them outside to hang them back up. Once back inside the house, I watched the Hummers fill themselves with fresh nectar. All seemed to be happy with four female and five male Hummingbirds divvying up the feeders among themselves.

Suddenly, a male came streaking through the air and knocked another male from its perch on one of the feeders. The aggressor then made himself comfortable on the feeder hanger and began to preen. I quickly grabbed my camera and went to my favorite spot for photographing Hummingbirds, our bedroom window.

It wasn’t long and another male came by the feeder and the fight was on! Twirling, chattering and tumbling end-over-end in mid air, the pair fell to the ground. As they lay there in the grass, the male Hummingbirds used their bills just like they were swords. It wasn’t long until the dominant male had the other male flat on the ground, standing on top of it and stomping and clawing at the poor soul.

I couldn’t believe that this was happening within a few feet of where I stood and well within range to get photos of the altercation, and even video footage. I snapped away as if there were no tomorrow, hoping that my camera setting were close enough for at least half decent captures.

There were two separate fights between these two Hummingbirds. The first lasted about 30 seconds, and once the aggressor finished stomping the crap out of the other bird, they both flew away. The second fight lasted much longer. This time, the aggressor stomped and clawed at the other for about a minute and a half. I began to worry as the Hummingbird that was laying flat on its back stopped moving.

I thought about intervening, but just left nature take its course. Finally, the aggressor flew away, but the poor bird laying on the ground looked like it was dead. I slowly walked toward the motionless bird, quietly asking “Are you okay little fella?” When I was about six feet away, I noticed some movement and I stopped and watched the Hummingbird. Suddenly, with a chatter, the bird flew up into a nearby maple tree where it began preening its ruffled feathers.

I’ve watched Hummingbirds fight in mid air and tumble around on the feeders, but I have never witnessed these birds driving each other into the ground. I was completely awe stricken, with emotions ranging from wonder to worry thrown into the mix. I just couldn’t grasp the fact that these little jewels could be so violent.

Enjoy the photos and video from this incredible encounter, which I call the Fight of the Hummingbirds.

The following photos were taken with a Canon 7D and a Canon 400mm f/4 L IS lens. Simply click one of the thumbnails below for a full-sized view, and then use your arrow key to navigate through the rest of the photos. ©2011 John Briggs Photography | All Rights Reserved

The following video shows the aggressive Hummingbird giving the other a good stomping and then both flying away. I have other video clips showing the stomping and clawing in greater detail, which I will post on my Google+ page sometime this weekend.

Dimension: 560×480 | Video bit rate: 1000Kbps | length: 17 seconds
Playback: Click Play Button | Broadband Connection Recommended
Video: Fight of the Hummingbirds | ©2011 John Briggs Photography

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4j9f7bbFe4

Happy birding!

World Bird Wednesday

Baltimore Oriole Fledgling

John Briggs — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:03:45 +0000

UPDATE: It’s been brought to my attention that this bird is not a fledgling but a first year male. Although I watched this bird begging and being fed by an adult male, I assumed it was a fledgling. My bad! You all know what assuming does. Many thanks to @_CabinGirl Tami Vogel for bringing this to my attention. Has anyone ever seen this behavior, where an adult feeds a begging 1st year Oriole? Let me know in the comments.

What a day for a bird to fledge! Today’s weather features on and off heavy rain, gusty winds and very cool temperatures, a day not fit for man nor beast. It would seem that a bird would rethink about leaving the comfort of its nest on a day like today.

For the past two weeks, adult Baltimore Orioles have been taking mouthfuls of grape jelly and suet back to the nests to feed their hungry nestlings. The Orioles and Catbirds are going through a jar of grape jelly every 2 to 3 days, so I have no doubt that their are many young mouths being fed. It will probably only be a matter of a day or two before our feeders are overrun with fledglings.

Bird Photography: Baltimore Oriole Fledgling

This male Baltimore Oriole fledgling is soaking wet, probably chilled and its feathers are matted. It picked a brutal day to begin exploring the world and all it has to offer. As you can see in the following video, it’s eating well and knows enough to shake the rain from its feathers. It’s a big world out there for a young bird out on its own for the first time. If this Oriole can avoid the dangers that every birds faces, such as windows, cats, Hawks, weather, etc., then it may return to our yard one day to raise its own young.

Male Baltimore Oriole fledgling

Dimension: 560×480 | Video bit rate: 1000Kbps | length: 37 seconds
Playback: Click Play Button | Broadband Connection Recommended
Video: Baltimore Oriole Fledgling | ©2011 John Briggs Photography

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUTYj7Zdgcg

Happy birding!

Baltimore Oriole

John Briggs — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:37:46 +0000

Baltimore Oriole – Icterus galbula

The Baltimore Oriole, with its flute-like song, is a bird we eagerly anticipate every Spring. We place orange halves and grape jelly feeders throughout the yard hoping to attract these beautiful birds. The Baltimore Oriole was late arriving in our part of Maine this year. Cold, wet weather with unfavorable winds delayed the northward migration until conditions improved during the mid-May time period.

Over the last six years, we’ve had five seasons of nesting Baltimore Orioles in our yard, with last year being a banner year. The summer of 2010 brought three nesting pairs to our property, with 10 successfully fledged young visiting our feeders. This Spring, I’ve counted 4 males and 3 females, one of the males being a first year juvenile. The pairing has already begun, with one pair in our crabapple tree near the edge of the cove and another pair in a mighty oak tree on the opposite side of our property. The remaining individuals mostly hang out in our neighbors pear trees.

The possible reasons for our success in attracting and keeping the Baltimore Oriole could be that we have the only Oriole feeders in the area. I did a survey last summer that showed the closest feeding station for Orioles was three miles from our home, which was located in the north end of Bath. Another reason I believe this bird is attracted to the area may be because there are many fruit trees in the vicinity that are in bloom during the time period that the Baltimore Oriole migrates.

Bird Photography: Baltimore Oriole

I captured photos of the first Baltimore Orioles to arrive on May 17th. I hope you enjoy the following photos and video of this beautiful bird.

HD Video: Female Baltimore Oriole

Dimension: 560×480 | Video bit rate: 1000Kbps | length: 54 seconds
Playback: Click Play Button | Broadband Connection Recommended
HD Video: Female Baltimore Oriole | ©2011 John Briggs Photography

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvgjuyV4JzI

Happy birding!

World Bird Wednesday

Friday Feathers: Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak

John Briggs — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:53:08 +0000

Rose-breasted Grosbeak – Pheucticus ludovicianus

Our first Rose-breasted Grosbeak of the year visited our bird feeders this morning. This beautiful female navigated in the dense fog and found a buffet of bird seed in our backyard. We usually see a few male and female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks stop by to visit our feeders in the Spring and Fall. While we have no knowledge of a successful nest on our property, I am hopeful that this will be the year that these birds decide to give our backyard a try.

As of 1:30 this afternoon, the female Rose-breasted Grosbeak is still visiting our feeders. Afterward, she takes refuge in the apple tree near the edge of the cove.

Dimension: 560×480 | Video bit rate: 1000Kbps | length: 48 seconds
Playback: Click Play Button | Broadband Connection Recommended
HD Video: Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak | ©2011 John Briggs Photography

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPYPQ4-z0Zg

Happy birding!

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Rainy Day Hummingbirds

John Briggs — Tue, 17 May 2011 21:45:54 +0000

Bird photography on a rainy day is somewhat of a challenge. Light is diffused, any sort of movement from your subject causes blur due to shooting at such a slow shutter speed, and rain is not exactly beneficial to your camera and lens. Never-the-less, I was becoming stir crazy sitting in the house waiting for an end to the days upon days of rainfall.

Hummingbird migration has been incredible this year. I counted 14 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in our yard this morning. They are going through nectar like there is no tomorrow, and the battles over the feeders is comical. What do these birds expect? I have nine nectar feeders set up throughout the yard, but every Hummingbird wants to drink from the window feeder. When a Hummingbird is at the feeder, another zooms in and knocks it out of the way.

I set up my tripod, dressed in camo, and stood near a favorite perch. The little jewels buzzed around me like so many bees. One particular ornery male landed on my lens hood. While I slowly retrieved my cell phone to capture the moment, another Hummingbird zoomed in and knocked it off the hood. I missed the shot, but I didn’t care. It was fun standing among these beautiful birds.

Enjoy the photos and HD video of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Dimension: 560×480 | Video bit rate: 1000Kbps | length: 24 seconds
Playback: Click Play Button | Broadband Connection Recommended
Video: Ruby-throated Hummingbird | ©2011 John Briggs Photography

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkEyQWfuopE

Happy birding!

World Bird Wednesday