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Thread: Outsmarted!

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    Default Outsmarted!

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    For the past year I have envisioned an image of a ruby-throated hummingbird visiting the flower of the trumpet vine. This morning I tromped through poison ivy to a patch on a fence along the road and clipped off a blossom sprig. I was just set up when this male visited the flower. However, he didn't approach the trumpet but climbed aboard and poked a hole in the base and began lapping up the nectar. Well, he's not stupid! These little birds probably cannot reach the nectar any other way. As much as I tried this morning, none of the birds took my bait and drank the sugar water I placed on the lip of the flower.

    Nikon D7000, ISO 400, f18, 1/250s, 80-400 VR @260, 4 slave SB26 flashes, SB800 on camera @-1 2/3
    Cropped from horizontal with sliver of canvas added on bottom (I was expecting them to come to the front).
    Brightened gorget, cloned small spots on flower and flash highlights and very small amount of sharpening.

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    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    The trumpet vine flower is rendered beautifully; the lighting from the flash setup admirable. The hummer's head angle is good, but I guess I might have wished that bird wasn't behind the flower, and that his wing position were better.

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    Linda, I think you did a great job getting the flower and bird in sharp focus. Bill makes some good points. I do see some artifacts or cloning marks in the BG that I might clean up if it were mine.

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    I do like how the HB is leaning into the flower to feed. Lovely iridescence, and a colourful flowery perch. I would maybe take half off the top, as the HB is facing down into the image.

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    Thanks for the comments. I, too, wish the wing position were better and the hummingbird was not hidden by the flower. However, this was the only time he came to the flower in that position.

    I was most interested in posting this image as an example of behavior that I've not seen before. I've seen other birds pierce the flower to get nectar, but I've not seen the ruby throat do that before. While his beak is not inserted into the flower at this point, that flower had a large slit in the side by the time he was done with it. Every other time he came to the flower he approached from the back to drink from that opened area.

    Linda

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    Lifetime Member Colin Driscoll's Avatar
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    A nice bit of ecology you have captured Linda. It's called 'nectar robbing' and is also practised by some native bee species. It is called robbing because they bypass the intended mutualistic process of pollination that the plants have evolved.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nectar_robbing

  7. #7
    Ofer Levy
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    This is a beautiful behaviour image!!! Fantastc flash work and colours! I don't mind the wing position nor the fact the bird is a bit behind the flower. I think you should try to use f16 as difraction kicks in with such small aperture which results in softer detail.
    Here is a tighter crop with what looks to me a more balanced composition.

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    Linda, this is a wonderful behavior image of a very smart little bird!

    They will also reach the nectar by going into the trumpet as well. I have witnessed this and it is also very cute because their whole body fits into the trumpet.

    Looking forward to seeing more of these little ones from you and I hope to get some of my own this summer.

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    I'm very aware of the nectar robbing behavior of some bees and birds. But, I've not heard that this was something that this species did. I was quite surprised to see this behavior. What is interesting is that the females would go to investigate the front of the trumpet but did not try to feed there either. They also did not try to feed as this fellow did.

    Ofer, I started with a crop similar to yours but then felt it was too tight. I'm still conflicted on the crop.

    Noelle, I was sure they would go in the front of the trumpet. However, because most of these flowers are high in the trees around here, I haven't observed them do that. I've seen them crawl inside of daylilies and it's really quite funny. I was very surprised at the behavior of this bird. If you want images of the males -- get out there. They start molting soon.

    Thanks everyone for the comments.

    Linda

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