Hummingbirds
We only have one hummingbird species native to the East Coast so I take every opportunity I can to photograph these tiny dynamos. When my friend Jimmy asked if I wanted to visit the Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary (http://www.lihummers.com) I jumped at the opportunity. I had visited this small parcel of land overlooking Long Island sound two years ago and got some very nice shots of a male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds with his gorget showing. The man who owns the property is very nice. He opens his place to visitors on weekends in August and, judging by Sunday's turnout, it is a favorite spot for Long Island nature photographers.
There's only one problem. I like to photograph hummingbirds in their natural habitat. In an attempt to attract more birds to his place the owner has placed more than 20 hummingbirds feeders at strategic locations around the property. The hummingbirds are not stupid. They know the feeders are easy so they don't bother spending much time at all the beautiful flowers that have been planted to attract them. Mostly they just sit up in trees above the feeders and nap and feed. They are very territorial and jealously guard a feeder from any rivals. There wasn't much opportunity to photograph them feeding on flowers but there were plenty of them.
I went into Central Park on Monday and after a couple hours of hanging out at a stand of Cardinal flowers in the north end of the park I was rewarded by a hummingbird that spent 10-15 minutes feeding not fifteen feet in front of me. While not an adult male I have high hopes for photographing one in the park this year.
In another week the Jewelweed should be in full bloom and that's should bring a lot of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to the park.
