A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird stopped at a bird feeder this morning, August 29th. I feel pretty sure that this is a migrating male since the feeders that my resident male guarded all summer have, for the last few days, been unguarded and available for young and female hummingbirds.
Have you ever thought about what you'd ask a bird if you could (and if they could answer)?? Things that scientists just can't tell us about an individual bird in our yard?
If I could sit on a perch with this bird, here's what I'd ask him:
1) Where did you spend your summer?
2) How old are you?
3) When did you leave your territory and what stops did you make before arriving here?
4) Did you stop here last fall too?
5) Are you finding everything you need in my yard habitat?
6) How long will you stay here and when do you hope to hit the coast?
7) How many stops will you make along the way and will you try to stop at the same places as last year? Where are they?
8) What is it like to fly across the Gulf of Mexico without stopping?
9) Where will you spend the winter and how is the habitat faring there?
10) Do you spend any time there in a shade-grown coffee farm and can you describe the habitat in a shade coffee farm compared to a sun coffee farm?Wouldn't you love to know the answers? Is there anything you'd like me to ask him if I can pin him down?