Everyone loves hummingbirds, but do hummingbirds love us?
That is the question I ask myself often.
Mr. Homer the hummer seems to adore me. His love affair with me (and my nectar) may be called "imprinting"? I'm not sure. Here's the definition: im·print·ing (mprntng) n. A rapid learning process by which a newborn or very young animal establishes an attraction to another animal of its own kind or to a substitute or an object identified as the parent.
Okay, I'll call it "a behavior pattern of recognition." He comes when I call, he rarely leaves the yard and he won't let any other hummingbirds stay for very long. He's chased away the Anna's, Black-chinned, Broad-billed and Allen's, with one exception...the ladies. He lets the girls come for juice.
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| Homer, my Hummer. |
Homer is a Costa's (Calypte costae) and I remember when we met. It was a very rainy day and he had gotten wet, I could see he was shivering from the cold. Costa’s Hummingbirds breed mainly from February to May on their desert breeding grounds in California and Arizona, so I'm guessing he was just a few months old when we met. I felt so bad for the little guy and (after I took his photo) I reassured him, "I will take good care of you sweetie bird, don't be scared."
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| Cold and wet Homer. |
Homer hasn't left since that day. Whenever I go out side he flits right up to my face. I used to get startled, not anymore. However, that kind of behavior from a small cute bird is not always welcomed. Our daughter Katrina is scared of the hummer's quick appearances, unlike our Grandson Daniel who grew up playing in the back yard with Homer. Daniel helps me bring feeders to hang in the large Eldarica pine where Homer lives.
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| Homer and his real Mamma. |
The bird is so at home here...that he even visits the dog, Karmel. When I sit in his chair, Homer will visit my face over and over, flying right up near my eye balls. He comes to my finger tip and almost sat on my coffee cup handle one morning. Prominent perching and whistling during perching may also be considered displays of affection and he is quite the singer!
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| Follow arrow to bird on chair. |
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| Homer on the arm rest of "his" chair. |
With a bird so sweet to care for it's so important to buy him treats. A few months ago I bought him flowers and he went nuts! Throughout the year, Costa’s Hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowers, hawk flying insects, and glean other insects from leaves, branches, and tree trunks. Hummers obtain sufficient water from their food, yet Homer loves to try and drink from our water fountain anyway.
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| Mexican Honeysuckle. |
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| On a bucket handle, close to the ground and just feet away from me. |
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Me with an Anna's, seen on the left of feeder.
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To care for the hummers, I keep the feeders full at all times, with the standard mixture of one part sugar to four parts water. Three are hung out of sight of each other, which keeps down the fighting. Also, I clean the feeders with a bottle brush and super hot water, only adding a tiny amount of bleach if the summer has made them icky. In the winter they're checked for ice first thing in the morning. It's a lot of work, but I enjoy it.
Yes, I do realize hummers can have a short lifespan, about 5-7 years. God forbid, when the time comes for my baby to go...I'm sure more will visit and stay a while. I've found three unoccupied nests in the yard this year alone. Homer has let a younger male Costa's move in the yard and I can tell them apart because the new one has a flattened elongated shaped head!
Words can't express how much joy Homer brings me and I will always treat him like my baby.
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| All grown up! |
