When Rocky returned this spring, he was the first hummingbird in this colony to appear. Dressed in his fine new colors, and with the confident attitude of a seasoned traveler, he seemed as happy to see me as I was to see him. He still enjoyed my front porch guitar sessions, and showed up for each one. I attempted a photo session with him a couple of weeks ago, and this is the best shot I got. I was going to try again, but never had the chance. About a week ago there was a violent thunderstorm here, with heavy rain and hail and winds in excess of 80 mph. It caused a lot of damage in the area. I found many dead baby birds, blown from their nests, and we lost a large number of adult birds. Rocky did not survive the storm. In light of what happened, I think this photo is just right, as he appears to be more spirit than flesh. I know some will respond with the advice that this was just nature, and that has to be accepted. I know this is true, and I receive those thoughts in the spirit they are offered. However, there is much more to it than that for me. He and I shared much , and I was always impressed with his uncommon courage and intelligence. He only lived less than a year, but it was a very full year. He became king of the feeder at an early age, successfully defending it against much older and more experienced birds. I am glad he got to make his epic journey south , crossing the Gulf of Mexico to spend the winter months sampling exotic nectars in the shadows of the Central American tropical rain forests, and making the return journey. He found a suitable mate here, a feisty little lady who was the only bird allowed to share the feeder with him. She survived the storm, and a do hope she is raising Rocky's offspring. Yes, the violence of nature took him, but Rocky was far more than "just a bird". He was my friend, and I reserve the right to grieve for his loss. Correction: Rocky was born in 2013, not last year, so he went to Central America twice. As I get older time seems to be harder to keep track of. It is not unusual for me to lose track of a year! Here is a pic of Rocky from last summer;
Rocky