Rubies in the backyard

When photographer Lidija Hauck returned to her Wayne County home from her residence in Florida, she found some priceless jewels of brilliant metallic green and red in her backyard. Ruby-throated hummingbirds have recently come back to the region, and several have been enjoying dining at Hauck’s feeder.

The magical diminutive birds, averaging three and a half inches, are the only birds known to fly backwards. They can also hover in one spot like an insect. Their needle-like bills allow them to harvest nectar from tubular flowers and feeders. They are drawn to red or pink flowers such as bee balm, coral bells heuchera, salvia, trumpet creeper and petunias.

An interesting courtship ritual involves the male swinging in a wide pendulous arc while buzzing loudly as a female perches nearby observing his display. Hummingbirds also make twittering squeaks and insect-like sounds.

Two white eggs are deposited into delicate nests composed of plant down, spider silk and lichen and stitched into tree branches.

Visit lidijapix.wordpress.com/ and lidijapix.zenfolio.com/ to see more stunning images by Hauck.