Hummingbirds leaving town?

Some friends came over during the holiday weekend and their daughters had some hummingbird encounters while they feasted after the storm.

The hummingbirds will only be around for a couple more weeks, and things get a bit crazy at the end of the season.

Three vying for the feeder.

At the end of the season, the birds seem less keen on fighting for the feeder and just let everyone have a feed. They drain the feeder every couple of days I assume storing up for the long journey ahead.

A few weeks ago, I was having a conversation about reincarnation with someone. She felt that her husband had the spirit of a golden eagle.... I thought of course. Eagles are seen as probably the most powerful and majestic birds, so who wouldn't want to be an eagle in a past or future life?

I'm sure that not every person would have the good fortune to be "re-born" as an eagle, so if you had your choice, what bird would you like to be reincarnated as?

Obviously there's the hummingbird. While we sat and watched, I saw the hummingbirds fly backwards up through the trellis. The fly and fight with blinding speed. A hummingbird would be a good choice.

What about a sea bird like a frigate or albatross. The frigate has the lightest wingloading of any bird and can soar incredibly light sea breezes. They also fish by diving hard into the water. Albatrosses use dynamic soaring to cross vast oceans. Or how about a Cormorant? You'd be able to fly and also swim 100+ feet down in the sea fishing for food.

A Swift or Kestrel would be pretty cool. They're both amazingly aerobatic. The flick upside down and right side up in a split second. An eagle seems to lumber with sloth-like speed in comparison.

How about a goose? Think of all the cool sunset parties you'd fly into. The bird for a socialite. Or maybe a swan for those pretentious lazy folk. Nothing but swimming and getting a tan pond-side all day. Or dare I say it, the common house fly. It would be pretty cool to land on cielings. :)

Back to the hummingbirds... The girls were actually able to take their fingers away from the feeder a couple of times with a hummingbird perched on their hand. It was exciting for all of us to watch.