Hummingbird Watching - Fraser Canyon

Up in the Fraser Canyon, a simple hummingbird feeder has been providing a lot to look forward to for when we got back from our big trip. These are late spring birds, they're mostly rufous hummingbirds, with the odd anise hummingbird popping up from time to time. They playfully chase each other around the feeder, take up surveillance positions in the surrounding hedge and roses, and chide us when the syrup is low. I switched up the angle so I could get some close shots of their cute little teeny bird feet and bodies. Right away, I caught them enjoying the only recipe you need for syrup. One part white crystallized sugar, four parts water. That's it. Bring it all to a light simmer, keep covered, let it cool, fill the feeder. Do not add coloring, do not add honey, maple, other syrups, don't add dyes, natural or otherwise, nothing else. These guys are sensitive to mold, spores, and other infections from adulterated feed, so do it right. Leave the syrup out no more than three days. Clean and rinse the feeder thoroughly every time, every part of it, no exceptions. We'll leave it. This isn't that incredibly busy a time here at the feeder. By mid-summer when some caliopes, annas, and other stragglers come up from Mexico and from the coast to nest, this could be packed with birds all jostling and squabbling over a turn. I really liked this duo's helictical ascent, so I'm going to make you watch it twice. These little birds are fascinating and they have a ton of personality. When the feeder gets low, they peer into our windows, follow us around the property, and do flybys to try and hustle us along. They also aren't afraid to get close. I decide to push my luck and see if they even care if I stand at their own eye level at the feeder, and it seems they mostly do not, so long as I don't make obvious direct eye contact. Look at this! This one briefly alights on my finger. What a teensy little foot! Well, I tried to get my whole hand and body near there because I guess I was being greedy? This one gave a quick peek, but word got around fast that I was being a bit over the top and it slowed down. Let's talk hummingbird facts in the comments, but I'll kick it off. Rufous hummingbirds flap their wings between 50 and 60 times a second during regular flight, and up to 200 times a second when defending territory or mating. For Vegan Everywhere, enjoying the hummingbirds, I'm David.