this was asked by my friend in Arizona ..............
Hummingbird Question - NO picture
I was outside yesterday and I hear this commotion by the garden. I see this hummingbird flying in what appears to be oval or figure 8 pattern over an area of 8 ft by 2 feet - just above some plants. It is like he has his after burners on. Zoom, zoom , zoom. Then sits on the fence and rests. I am thinking - he got some fermented nectar. This bird is crazy.
So I go to the garage door and watch from about 10 feet. Again it goes out flying this pattern. Noisy as heck. In fact you hear it - but do not see it much. Then goes back to the fence and rest a few minutes. Does this about 4 more times until another Hummingbird comes in and they both leave. Never went to feed ( Feeder about 3 feet away. ) But he must have consumed a ton of energy. He was flying at a frantic pace.
I go over to the plant to see if there was something in it. Out pops a lavender colored hummingbird.
Anyone ever noticed this type of behavior? Mating ritual? In 5 years of dealing with large populations of hummingbirds - I have never seen it.
Hummingbird Question - NO picture
I was outside yesterday and I hear this commotion by the garden. I see this hummingbird flying in what appears to be oval or figure 8 pattern over an area of 8 ft by 2 feet - just above some plants. It is like he has his after burners on. Zoom, zoom , zoom. Then sits on the fence and rests. I am thinking - he got some fermented nectar. This bird is crazy.
So I go to the garage door and watch from about 10 feet. Again it goes out flying this pattern. Noisy as heck. In fact you hear it - but do not see it much. Then goes back to the fence and rest a few minutes. Does this about 4 more times until another Hummingbird comes in and they both leave. Never went to feed ( Feeder about 3 feet away. ) But he must have consumed a ton of energy. He was flying at a frantic pace.
I go over to the plant to see if there was something in it. Out pops a lavender colored hummingbird.
Anyone ever noticed this type of behavior? Mating ritual? In 5 years of dealing with large populations of hummingbirds - I have never seen it.