I've watched two juvenile hummingbirds feed at the feeder. First for it's first ever. He/she could barely fly and hold the feeder in his sights. Stabbed a few times but I don't know he ever got the nozzle. (Successful drink, I get to see a bubble float up. Alphie can do 9 in one "sitting". Females - several. The youngsters are rapidly getting better but I am already seeing Alpha-to-be chasing off a more timid one.

And the sparrows. Friday I watched four of I thought three different species. A larger one with brown and white patterned breast and two smaller roughly similar colored. Larger ruled and all others stepped back. Middle had a reddish breast and seemed to be bossing around the smaller ones while yielding to the dominant one. Pulled out my binocs. (Treated myself to Nikon M7 8 X 42s. What a treat! Best glasses I've used with my eyeglasses by a lot.) Then I got it. Ms reddish was bossing around those little ones because they were her brood. Also dropping food down one's throat while the other looked on quite impatiently.

So she and her kids flew to my feeder so I could watch her feed them right in front of my study! And now I know why the feeder level is dropping so fast. (2 inches in barely over 24 hours.) She's eating for three. The hummer feeders are going down almost as fast but I'm guessing the kids aren't doing a lot of damage yet - still the skill factor - but mom is both feeding them and trying to recoup lost weight. (Four or five bubbles from a female is a lot.)

Time to play the Albert Collins hummingbird theme song. "I Ain't Drunk. I'm Just Drinking."