By this point in July, I thought I'd be sitting under the wide eaves over my deck in Prescott enjoying the afternoon rainstorms that accompany the summer monsoon. But so far the weather is unusually hot and dry, more June than July-like. In fact with heavy showers in May, that month was more winter-like. However, the arrival of rufous hummingbirds at my feeders on July 1st reminded me that some things in nature might still remain predictable.
Rufous hummingbirds migrate north from Mexico in the spring, following a mostly coastal route to the Pacific Northwest. Some birds even travel as far as southeast Alaska to mate and nest. His work accomplished, the male of the species starts his migration home through the Rocky Mountain states, leaving the female to rear the young on her own. It's these absentee fathers I've started seeing in Prescott.
Later in the summer and after the males have left, the females and juveniles begin their own migrations. However this very morning I noticed one try to visit a feeder before a male quickly chased it away. Just when I thought I could rely on Mother Nature's clock again, I noticed another change in her routine, like the delayed monsoon rains.
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| Male rufous hummingbird in Prescott. |
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| Male rufous hummingbird in Prescott. |
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| Male rufous hummingbird in Prescott. |
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