Dirty Pete and Pretty Pete

are the names of this spring's pair of males who are frequenting the feeder.

Dirty Pete (named because his feathers appear dirty and because he has the waistline of a middle-aged mafioso) seems to run the yard, though he's pretty lax about it as male hummingbirds go. Enter Pretty Pete. Better looking than Dirty Pete (Actually, he's a fine specimen.), Pretty Pete is nearly as smart. So I have two smart birds to start the season AND they tolerate each other well, all things considered. Cool.

There's no question in my mind that Dirty Pete has made the connection between people and food. Upon first arriving, he would often curiously "prompt" us - something I've noticed over the last 10 seasons - which is a sort of hovering posture they assume that I've come to take a hummingbird prod to make with the food. Moreover, in working with him over the last 4-5 days, it is clear he is aware that I am the supplier of sugar water.

Dirty Pete is amazing to work with. He has nearly zero fear of me. He actually will peck at a life size glass rose bud (made by my wife) that hangs against my chest. He had no problem with brushing his wings against my face and shoulder as he passed between them after checking out the pendant, so very personable, lol. He also learns very quickly. I have trained him to go to any point on a plant that I desire (not quite an exact science, but close ). And I believe that if I need him to just hover in empty space I can get him to (and may if I think it will work for a shot).

As for Pretty Pete, he is seen much less since he is more of an intruder on Dirty Pete's territory. So he is working at a disadvantage since he's missing most of the training. Still, he is smart enough to learn from Dirty Pete. With a little time I will be able to tell them apart upon arrival by their behavior and this will help me in getting the shots I'm looking for.

Oh and the pics. Two of Dirty Pete.

Beautiful images! Really gorgeous work. How on earth do you train them?

Thank you Carol. Sending a PM.

Great story, How did you train them? Dirty Pete does not look too happy. great shots!

Beautiful shots Ian. Great and cool story.

2n10 wrote in post #16903574
Beautiful shots Ian. Great and cool story.

Thanks John. The photo ops are the reason I go out every day, the stories are the reason I have a hard time coming back in.

Oldjackssparrows wrote in post #16903335
Great story, How did you train them? Dirty Pete does not look too happy. great shots!

I apologize for the delay Bret. I wanted to make sure I had the time to write a proper note. Thanks for the good words.

As for the training, it requires a number of things to come together: 1) I have access to the same hummingbird about every 10 minutes from sunup to sundown, on average. The reason being is that one male will set up a territory around the house, so I don't get a lot of birds, but instead usually just one. 2) I am retired and spend about 8 hours a day, 6-7 days a week with the hummingbirds, so I become very familiar to them. This requires shooting in all weather, for which I am uniquely situated. 3) I live on a mountain in a remote area, so there's very little to alarm/scare the birds. 4) I have a partner who fully supports the fact that I spend so much time doing this.

As for the training itself, I have taken the things I've learned watching and interacting with Ruby-throats over the last 10 years and learned to work with them. Since it's a combination of observational/behavior​al knowledge and behavior modification (think BF Skinner and Pavlov), it would take too long to relay here, so message me with specific questions.

But, in a nutshell, it's a simple and easy game of "Where's the food?". The goal is to get the bird to search for his food (which is what they do naturally) and, in doing so, search the flowers I put in a specific spot. That's when I get my pics.

For instance, if you place flowers approx 10 ft from the feeder, let the bird feed for a while til he's familiar with the location of the feeder, then switch the flowers/feeder when he's not looking. Upon first return, he'll go to the spot of the feeder which is now where the flowers are. In the second or two that it takes for him to find and go to the feeder he'll usually do two things: seek cover (behind or around the flower) and feed. Then he'll zip off to the feeder. After the first day or so, the game becomes complicated because these birds on the whole are extremely smart.

It takes a consistent bird who is smart and unafraid of people. The latter two traits have been easy to find in a hummingbird where I live. But finding a bird who is as regulated as Dirty Pete is a score. He's around every 3-7 minutes all day, taking about a 30 minute break every 45 minutes or so. Knowing this helps greatly. He's also in the upper percentile of the smart hummingbirds I've worked with. He learns so fast that, along with some other behaviors I've observed, I feel he's a returnee from previous seasons.

~Ian

twoshadows wrote in post #16907870
I apologize for the delay Bret. I wanted to make sure I had the time to write a proper note. Thanks for the good words.

As for the training, it requires a number of things to come together: 1) I have access to the same hummingbird about every 10 minutes from sunup to sundown, on average. The reason being is that one male will set up a territory around the house, so I don't get a lot of birds, but instead usually just one. 2) I am retired and spend about 8 hours a day, 6-7 days a week with the hummingbirds, so I become very familiar to them. This requires shooting in all weather, for which I am uniquely situated. 3) I live on a mountain in a remote area, so there's very little to alarm/scare the birds. 4) I have a partner who fully supports the fact that I spend so much time doing this.

As for the training itself, I have taken the things I've learned watching and interacting with Ruby-throats over the last 10 years and learned to work with them. Since it's a combination of observational/behavior​al knowledge and behavior modification (think BF Skinner and Pavlov), it would take too long to relay here, so message me with specific questions.

But, in a nutshell, it's a simple and easy game of "Where's the food?". The goal is to get the bird to search for his food (which is what they do naturally) and, in doing so, search the flowers I put in a specific spot. That's when I get my pics.

For instance, if you place flowers approx 10 ft from the feeder, let the bird feed for a while til he's familiar with the location of the feeder, then switch the flowers/feeder when he's not looking. Upon first return, he'll go to the spot of the feeder which is now where the flowers are. In the second or two that it takes for him to find and go to the feeder he'll usually do two things: seek cover (behind or around the flower) and feed. Then he'll zip off to the feeder. After the first day or so, the game becomes complicated because these birds on the whole are extremely smart.

It takes a consistent bird who is smart and unafraid of people. The latter two traits have been easy to find in a hummingbird where I live. But finding a bird who is as regulated as Dirty Pete is a score. He's around every 3-7 minutes all day, taking about a 30 minute break every 45 minutes or so. Knowing this helps greatly. He's also in the upper percentile of the smart hummingbirds I've worked with. He learns so fast that, along with some other behaviors I've observed, I feel he's a returnee from previous seasons.

~Ian

You sure have paid your dues! Plus living in a remote location. I'm right smack in the middle of suburbia but once one comes along and lays claim though they tend to lose fear of me and concentrate on defending as much as possible, it's really cool to watch the action, quite intelligent little birds.
Love your shots, great clarity and all over IQ....