Just Plain Ol' Lazy

     I got up early to catch the feeding frenzy, and once I found my sitting location among the flowers, it didn't take long before the garden came to life. It's the time of year when all species of birds have started leaving the nest. Young naive Robins had gained their wings and were crashing recklessly into branches as they soared through the trees at speeds that were new to them. They showed fear in nothing. Many hopped along the trail right past me, looking for insects and just recognized me as another object in the garden. It's the time in a young bird's life when predators are a real threat to them. There's no room for mistake so they must learn quickly. The same goes for young hummingbirds. They are attracted to color or food, and often times ignore real threats around them. As I sat quietly, I observed many youngsters hopping from flower to flower all around me, often times feeling the wind from their wings on my face. They would notice things like the blink of my eyes, and fly up close to observe each blink. Their curiosity was a fault that could be costly if they approached the wrong object, and being so young, many of them would frequently perch between feeds to regain their energy. Their naive behavior, and strength and endurance in their wings, will improve dramatically in just a couple short days.
     Over a period of 2 hours, I snapped multiple shots and videos as they fed and perched all around me. The behavior of the young is so different from the adults, but their playful nature is just so amusing to watch. 
     Juvenile Ruby-throat. N.E. of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. August 2017.

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