We have at least 100 hummingbirds this summer. Most of them are the Broadtails with green backs, and the males have bright red throats. The design of the males' wings creates a high-pitched sound that can get very loud when there are lot of them in one area.



Because of bears, Mr. Troutbend has to get up at 5 am to put the feeders out, and take them in after dark.

Around the Fourth of July, the Rufous shows up - the males are bright orange with an oranger throat. The females and the young males look like the Broadtails.



The Rufous males are very territorial and feisty, and they stake out feeders to guard, chasing away the other birds. Their flying noise is more of a low-pitched buzz.

It keeps things stirred up until the end of July when they leave and the other birds go back to their normal routines, and then by mid-September, they will all be gone until next year.