Ruby-throated Hummingbird video
What does a ruby-throat think about at this point in the summer? Here, he sits and scratches, twitches and preens, heart pounding. He must be bothered by tiny mites. The more I watch him, I wonder if he chases others to build endurance, to protect valuable food sources knowing that he will soon be leaving on a long journey. This male has crossed the Gulf of Mexico before, perhaps in many springs. That flight may be up to 500 miles and take 18-22 hours, non-stop! In fall, probably due to hurricanes and the terrible loss of birds, the trip will mean following the coast of Texas back into Mexico and Panama.
The music is Windancer from Secret Garden. You can read more about the amazing migration of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds from Lanny Chamber's website:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/migration.html