FOR THE BIRDS

One of the things I have most enjoyed in this new temporary home has been the birds.  Having lived in the Mountains of Crested Butte for 20 years, feeding the birds, especially the hummingbirds could be dangerous because of attracting bears in the summer.  This is not a problem 35 miles south in the
"lower lands"s so we have many bird feeders that have attracted a wide variety subjects for my camera.

 My favorite, I think is the Bullock's Oriole (not seen for a week).  The male has adeep orange chest  and yellow underbelly, and a blackstripe through his eye and under his chin.

This one was especially handsome

 The female has a grey head and white underbelly,  As you can see by her choice of perch they both like the sugar water food of the hummingbirds.

                        It wasn't long before the babies arrived and found their way to our porch.

The house finch tried their best to drink out of the hummingbird feeder too but with no succes.

                                     So a baby flew up to see what Dad was trying to do.                                               

Red-winged Blackbirds were always there by the score - but for a while this strange looking bird hung around in the Aspen tree feeding from the feeded.  He is a Black-Headed Grosbeak and was      smart enough to not try to compete with the hummingbirds.

        These are a few of the birds we have seen here this summer - Male Rufous Hummingbird.

                                                    Adult Male Broad-Tailed Hummingbird

                                                        Male Calliope Hummingbird

                                                  Male Broad Tailed Hummingbird

Though it seem like these birds expend an enormous amount on energy chasing each other away from the feeders, occasionally they do call a truce and settle down to share.