Farewell My Little Flying Jewels...

I knew this day would come...

  it's all a part of Nature's eternal plan for the Universe.

Reason tells me it's a blessing...

for with every Fall comes Winter 

and with every Winter, 

a bitter cold these little jewels could not abide.

So they fly South to Mexico for the Winter.

But oh... 
how I'm gonna miss my Hummingbirds!

 Did I know that very morning 

would be our last photo shoot?

 

 And if I did, 

would it have been any sweeter?

 And how did they know it was time to go?

There were still blooms left to sip from

in my gardens.

Were the mornings getting too cold?

  

  I've learned that it actually has nothing to do 

 with the availability of food

or with the temperature; 

in fact, hummingbirds migrate south at the time 

of greatest food abundance. 

As Autumn approaches, the urge to leave is triggered 

by the shortening length of sunlight... 

 and when the bird is fat enough... 

it migrates.

This little guy is quite plump 

don't you think?

Yes, they were ready...

but I wasn't.

I've also learned that a hummingbird may retrace it's path 

every year as long as it lives.

This means I'll see my little Flying Jewels again next Spring...

when it's warm again.

I can live with that,

it really was getting cold out there every morning

sitting patiently

 capturing their frolics with my camera.

♥   ♥   ♥

Oh! 

For those of you who saw 

my delightful little slideshow

at the hummingbird feeder...

here's an update:

 Not only did they figure out 

how to sip the nectar...

 they also became 

quite territorial over it.

Naughty little fellers...

there's really enough in there for all of you.

Farewell My Little Flying Jewels!

*BTW, the Audubon Society tells us that in the Fall, 

we should keep our feeders up for two weeks 

after we see the last bird using it. 

As the hummingbirds migrate 

they'll benefit from the extra boost 

the nectar gives them.