Banding of the Hummingbirds

We went to the banding of the hummingbirds over Memorial Day weekend. It's on a private farm in the Rockland area where data is collected about the hummingbirds and then they are "banded" so that bird can be tracked and compared if captured in the future. It was seriously one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Both Sydnie and Cordel got to hold a hummingbird, albeit briefly, before it was set free. I captured Cordel holding one. The little buggars are tiny and super fast, and w/o a high speed camera, getting a good shot of them is difficult. It's pretty hard to see them in the pictures, but if you look close you'll see them.

Cordel holding the hummingbird...


And one second later, GONE!



Fluttering at my wrist, they flap their wings so fast that they make a buzzing sound.



You can see a little green blur right at the corner of the table against my blue sweatshirt. He was only 6 inches away from me!



Collecting data on the bird. It's in his hands, but too small to really see.



This one is perched on the left side of the feeder, blending in with the tree.

You can see some amazing pictures and get more info at http://journalnet.com/galleries/hummingbirds/