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DIGITAL BIRDS
 

Rufous  Hummingbirds  digital  photos

15 HUMMERS AND A TAIL - AND THAT'S NO TALE
Rufous Hummingbirds at my feeder
  9:30 p.m., May 22, 2010 
 Photo Taken at my Cabin in Columere Park (A Private Community) 
 Columbia Lake, British Columbia, Canada

We can see the bottom of a hummer tail at the right behind and below the feeder

 

DOUBLE DIPPING HUMMERS ON THE LEFT
Rufous Hummingbirds at my feeder
 May 22, 2010 
 Photo Taken at my cabin in Columere Park (A Private Community) 
 Columbia Lake, British Columbia, Canada

MORE DOUBLE DIPPERS ON THE LEFT
Rufous Hummingbirds at my feeder
 May 26, 2010 
 Photo Taken at my cabin in Columere Park (A Private Community) 
 Columbia Lake, British Columbia, Canada

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Digital Photography by Elaine Sell Prefontaine 
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'Rufous Hummingbird'
 (Selasphorus rufus)

 Digital Photos, May 2005 
 Photos Taken at my cabin in Columere Park (A Private Community) 
 Columbia Lake, British Columbia, Canada
 
 

NATURE  NOTES: 

'Rufous Hummingbird'
(Selasphorus rufus)

Size: 3 to 4" in Length

The Female (above) is identified by her beautiful metallic bronze-green back, cinnamon rufous sides with white under tail coverts. 
The female and immature are very similar to the Allen's Hummingbird but have browner and wider outer tail feathers.

The  Male (below) is identified by his metallic bronze-green crown,  iridescent scarlet throat, white breast and cinnamon rufous underparts, sides and tail. 
 He is the only hummingbird in North American with a rufous back. 

Rufous Hummingbirds, like some human Canadian Snowbirds, arrive in Columere Park by beautiful Columbia Lake in Southeastern  British Columbia, Canada,  in May after spending the winter in Mexico.

 In the early evenings there is fierce competition at the feeders and it took some patience on my part to get these photos but it was worth it.  Since the hummers wings beat approximately 80 times per second it took more luck than skill to capture their wing action. I stood very still for many minutes waiting their arrival with camera focused on their nectar (sugar-water) feeder, zoom lens open and my finger ready on the shutter button.  Although one is alerted to the males arrival by their humming buzzing sound I found some of the females arrived soundlessly, like little phantoms, and had I not already been looking through the zoom lens at their feeder I would have missed them. 

The males remind me of little stealth fighters as they screetch and dive bomb other rufous males.  These tiny (3 - 4" L.) territorial little birds also bravely attack and chase off sparrows and squirrels.   Although a brave little man at chasing off the competition he is a poor parent and disappears to a separate  territory after the nest is built leaving the female to incubate the eggs and raise the young.  The mother lays two tiny white eggs in her nest of lichen, moss and spider webbing, which she has made in a low branched conifer. The mother regurgitates a liquid to feed the newborns till they are about two weeks old,  when she feeds them small insects and nectar.  At three weeks of age they leave the nest to fend for themselves on flower nectar.

Interesting Things About Hummingbirds:

- Hummingbirds can fly backwards and sideways as well as forwards.
- Hummingbirds can stop in mid flight.
- The hummingbird cannot walk so flies everywhere. 
- It's name comes from the humming sound of its wings vibrating.
- They love water, bathe often and  play in the water.
- Although they have territorial battles and mock fights no one seems to get hurt.
- Each nest is unique and  intricate.
- Hummingbirds can hibernate overnight by dropping their body temperature  and ruffling up their feathers for insulation.
- Some hummers migrate as much as 2,500 miles from Central America to Alaska. 

These tiny winged marvels have captivated our hearts and in the spring many of us have their nectar feeders ready and waiting prior to their annual arrival.

    duck digital photos

MERGANSERS
Columbia Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Digital Photo, September 16, 2008

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Digital Photography by Elaine Sell Prefontaine 
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    Gull DIGITAL photos

FREEDOM IN THE SKIES
Digital Photo, July 29, 2007 

Digital Photo, July 29, 2007 

FLYING INTO THE WIND
Columbia Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Digital Photo, July 29, 2007 

    EAGLE DIGITAL photos

 Eagle In Low Flight Over the Mouth of the Columbia River
 August 13, 2007

taking off Over Wetlands
July 27, 2007

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS OF THE GREAT BLUE HERON ROOKERY

    WHOOPER  SWAN  DIGITAL photos

'Making Friends'
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
Graceful and lovely, this friendly Whooper Swan swims towards my canoe.
Columbia Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Digital Photo, September 2002

'Canoe Inspection'
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
The curious swan comes in for a closer inspection.
Columbia Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Digital Photo, September 2002

'Columbia Lake Sentinel'
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
Looking southwest over Columbia Lake towards the Purcell Mountains
Columbia Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Digital Photo, August 2002

The Columbia Lake White Swan
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
Looking southwest over Columbia Lake towards the Purcell Mountains
Columbia Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Digital Photo, August 2002
 

'Preening'
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
Taken near the mouth of the Columbia River.
 Looking northeast to the Rocky Mountains above Fairmont Hot Springs.
  Columbia Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Digital Photo, August 2002 

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NATURE  NOTES:

Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)

This stately Whooper Swan resembles the Trumpeter Swan but has an extensive yellow base to its large bill.  Its voice is a deep pleasant "whoop".
Length 46" (from tip of bill to tip of tail), Wingspan 92".

In spite of its serene appearance it can be fierce when protecting its area.  Minutes before I took the August photos I was amazed to see it chase off three large dogs who waded in after it.  It rose on its feet and propelled itself across the water while furiously flapping its huge outstretched wings at the dogs.  They were frightened away and the swan then became briefly airborne before returning to preening itself in the shallow Columbia Lake waters.

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Digital Photography by Elaine Sell Prefontaine 
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    pileated  WOODpECKERS  digital photos

'Pileated Pleasures'
Pileated Woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus)
Digital photos, February 2003 
(IMG 132-3300)

(IMG 132-3289 & 131-3291)

NATURE  NOTES:

Pileated Woodpecker  (Dryocopus pileatus)

(IMG 132-3290)

Being territorial year round residents to this part of the Columbia Valley these striking Pileated Woodpeckers frequently visit the trees in my front yard.

  It is a joy to see them and hear their low distinctive drumming as they peck away in their search for ants, wood boring insects and their larvae. Woodchips beneath my trees indicate they have been there.
As can be noted from my pictures there does seem to be a "pecking order" as the larger male is always higher up in the tree. 

The pileated woodpecker, being the size of a crow is the largest existing woodpecker in America and is on the endangered species list.  Although they are rare and beautiful they can be destructive as I have had to repeatedly fill the holes they made in my cedar chimney. 

 It is easy to recognize their calls which are a series of loud "kak-kak-kak-kak's".

 The word "Pileated" means having a crest which covers the "pileum", which is at the top of the bird's head from the bill to the nape of the neck. 

The male is mostly black with a brilliant and conspicuous triangular red crest and mustache.  
 The female has a smaller red crest, black forehead, and no red mustache.

They both have bright white lower wing patches which are visible in flight. 
Both parents share the home duties of excavating the nesting cavity, incubating the eggs and feeding the young.

The magnificent pileated woodpecker is truly a sight to behold!