Migrating Hummingbirds

 The Hummingbirds that were frequenting the yard here have since left per my last Blog, But We have continued to enjoy several Migrants as they make there way from up North to Greener pastures Southward where they will enjoy there winter months in Mexico along the Gulf and into Nicaragua.

Photographing these Birds can be challenging as well as fun.  When photographing these birds I use a setup.

The setup consists of 1 or 2  8" or so Flower Pots " Used as our Draw" bought from a nursery positioned at chair level, the first closest to me setup at  Minumum focusing distance, this case 11 feet.  And the 2nd flower Pot out past the first but inline with my lens, say 7-12 feet back. This is done so  the back or secondary flower pot carries the flower theme  into the  Background of the photograph " Known as "BG". , The far off BG was natural field grasses which gives a softness feel with the sun hitting them.

Next to the first pot closest to me at Minimum focusing distance I setup on a shepherds hook a standard hummingbird feeder filled with 2 Tablespoons of sugar per 1 cup of water which they have been coming to all summer,  I positioned it 2 feet parallel to the closest flower pot.

In the flowers which are "Anise Hyssup Alcapulco's" A dainty flower which naturally attracts hummingbirds I used a Syringe or eye dropper can also be used and filled the cups of the flowers with the sugar water placing droplets into the shafts of the flower to act as natural nectar basins.

I gradually plugged off the feeders 4 feed openings with tape or a stick except for one and acclimated the birds to utilize the flower instead of the feeder for a natural presentation.

Camera settings were at Iso 800| F5.6| Shutter of 1/2500th- 4000th| Manual Operation| 1D Mark 4 Body| 600 F/4 Lens| Fill flash at - 3


Some Results of the Migrant Hummingbirds from 9-20-2010

For those of you feeding the Hummingbirds, Mid August to Late October is one of the most Important time periods to maintain the feeders as these Birds fatten up and thrive on the sugar water for energy in making the long trip south. 


Hope you enjoyed and can use this technique in your own backyards to capture photographs. the Birds will get very used to you and often will feed from your hand, as they really are very friendly...


Dan