Flying High

photos by Mary Predny

The last time I saw my little hummingbird before she left for warmer climates, I was standing on the porch, watching her from a distance while I toyed with the settings on my camera. She flew right up to me and hovered within arms reach, casually checking me out. She gave me just enough time to focus and shoot before she took off. Our brief intimate encounter was one of the most thrilling moments of my summer. I was wearing a red sweater that day, and I have heard that hummingbirds are attracted to the color red.

There are some awesome slow-motion quicktime movies of hovering hummingbirds here and here (see the wingbeat rate -wing motion section).