This week's blog contains the last of the Wyoming Hummingbird photographs, from the summer of 2014, Wyoming Hummingbird, Baby Rufous, Wind River CanyonA Young Rufous Hummingbird born in the Wind River Canyon, Wyoming, sticking out his tongue! that are professional enough to be posted on my Wind River Canyon wildlife conservation website HogbatsPhotography.com.  These pictures are of the cute and adorable kind, which sort of defines why we all love Hummingbirds so much.  This first photograph is an answer to the eternal question, "What does a Hummingbird tongue look like, anyway?"  On the Addams Family TV show it was an ingredient in a powerful love potion; my Hummingbirds have a more useful purpose for it, as you can see.  Or maybe it's just his reaction to the political section in his newspaper.  It really was just a lucky break to get such a picture, as you can't just time a shutter button push when his tongue is out like this. 

Wyoming Hummingbird, Young Male Rufous, Wind River CanyonHummingbird born in Wind River Canyon, Wyoming.      These three Hummingbird photographs were taken in a favorite spot that allows me to get in really close to these wild birds.  I'm actually sitting only six or seven feet away from these marvelous birds when these were taken in our late summer here in the Wind River Canyon, Wyoming.  I can get in this close for any number of reasons; they've gotten to know me, they have no fear of me, or of anything else for that matter; but it really is just that he has nothing to fear.  

     The next photographs are only here for one reason; to show anyone willing to take a glance at them that Hummingbirds are valuable little gems that should be protected like the jewels they really are.  You see, Hummingbirds are only in the Western Hemisphere and are nowhere else in the world.  They are rare even in their native habitat, and I'm always amazed at how few people have seen a living breathing Hummingbird up close.  It takes loads of patience and quiet to get any animal to trust me enough to get a photo, let alone a wild Hummingbird.  But they're here in the Wyoming, Wind River Canyon, Baby Rufous HummingbirdOut of the nest this very morning, the sunlit cliffs reflected in his eye, this Hummingbird was born in Wyoming. Wind River Canyon for nesting and breeding each summer; and now there are more Hummingbirds here than ever before; thanks to progress and loss of habitat they come to have their babies in this wild place.  

     Since I first put out a Hummingbird feeder in the Wind River Canyon, sixteen years ago, their numbers have increase dramatically.  Summer of 2014 I ran four very busy feeders, and now we have twice the number of species that breed here.  We had nesting Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Calliope Hummingbirds, and Rufous Hummingbirds this summer.  Seeing baby Hummingbirds of these four species late in summer was one of the most gratifying experiences of my life.  Fanatical dedication to Hummingbirds has paid off in this Wyoming canyon habitat, and the best part....they'll be back next year! and if you look close at the last photograph, you will see the golden canyon cliffs lit by the morning August Sun reflected in this Baby Rufous Hummingbird's tiny eye.

by michael john balog....resident of these parts.