Old and fat may not be the intended goal of many people, but it is necessary for survival when you’re a migrating hummingbird. Better just to hang out close to the food source and not burn too many calories. Some birds — particularly the older ones –will double their weight before the final migratory push, some 2,000 miles away.
This guy is the wise one and takes feeder guarding seriously. He struggles to protect his treasured feeder against incoming diners while in flight, appearing injured as he labors slowly back up to his perch. But he has settled into a more efficient way to protect his precious nectar source.
His strategy? Intimidation and conservation.
Ain’t no one getting passed this bouncer.
Related:
- Tiny Hummingbirds’ Incredible Migration, The Cornell Lab, March 16, 2016
- Hummingbird Banding Xtravaganza | DirtNKids
- They’re Here! | DirtNKids
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Happy and Safe Travels, El Gordo!
DirtNKids Blog 
It seems all our hummingbirds have left for southern latitudes within this last week, and just in time, since the weekend was cold and wet. Amazing how they know!
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After several years enjoying them from the back porch each autumn, it’s always hard seeing them move on. We get just a few weeks, so spend a lot of time watching!
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Great post, Shannon. It’s a lark of life that these tiny birds can be so fierce and effective.
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How can something so cute and tiny wrestle another to the ground and SIT on it in triumph? The most common descriptions of these shiny nuggets seem contradictory. Spirited indeed, Jet!
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