One Brave Girl

​     When you go all out for the Spring migration, and prepare your garden with more food options than any other garden within miles, what you get is a male dominated territory.  When you provide more than anyone else has, numerous males will fight for the territory.  Even though one male will reign supreme over the others, those others still find it hard to resist the overwhelming temptations you provide.  
     There's only one disadvantage to this situation - the females are far less likely to stick around your garden while the males are showing off, or extremely combatant.  You'll still see the female sightings, but they'll find it far too intimidating to just stick around and relax.
     Last Spring gave me just a few opportunities to capture one brave girl.  After dipping into the nectar, she sat around for perhaps just one last opportunity before nesting would occupy all her time.  A piece of evidence remained on her bill of what consumed her time over the previous days. Aspen fluff and perhaps some sticky spider webbing has clumped near the tip of her bill. This was evidence that she was in the process of building her nest. 
     The more male domination you have around your garden, the less likely you'll have a female nesting close by.  The females may choose a nesting ground a few miles away to avoid any intimidation or chaos caused by the males, but your abundant offerings of rich nectar and flower choices will remain in the back of her mind. When the desires reach their peak, she's sure to travel the great distance to fulfill that craving of rich endless nectar. 
     June of 2018. N.E. of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

---