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Photo Essay: Feathers!

A loud humming sound is heard. The sound is close to that of a bumblebee but much deeper and stronger. Nearby, a tiny green bird is darting in an erratic manner from flower to flower. Stopping, backing up, moving side to side, the ruby-throated hummingbird finally stops and hovers near a petunia, before injecting his long tongue into the flower. In only a brief time, he laps up the nectar by using what amounts to a micro-pump tongue. He then retracts his tongue into a special groove, which wraps the tongue around his skull.

Matt Cuda lives in North Carolina and specializes in nature photography. See much more of his work at mattcuda.com. 

During the evening six inches of new snow has fallen, and more continues to fall, creating a scene of intense beauty but presenting a hardship for the many bird species who inhabit the pine forests of North Carolina. Here, a blue jay hunkers down against a fallen branch, his mouth open in a display of force and defiance. Although a beautiful bird, the blue jay is known to drive off other birds that come near its food.
During the evening six inches of new snow has fallen, and more continues to fall, creating a scene of intense beauty but presenting a hardship for the many bird species who inhabit the pine forests of North Carolina. Here, a blue jay hunkers down against a fallen branch, his mouth open in a display of force and defiance. Although a beautiful bird, the blue jay is known to drive off other birds that come near its food.
In a low tree among the honeysuckle, bathed by dappled lighting, is a nest made of twigs, dry grasses and mud. Inside the nest is a brood of four little ones waiting for the mother robin to return with the nourishment they eagerly seek. The American robin is a signal of spring in the mountains.
In a low tree among the honeysuckle, bathed by dappled lighting, is a nest made of twigs, dry grasses and mud. Inside the nest is a brood of four little ones waiting for the mother robin to return with the nourishment they eagerly seek. The American robin is a signal of spring in the mountains.

. . . END OF PREVIEW

The story above is a preview from our Nov./Dec. 2018 issue. For the rest of the story, subscribe today or log in to the digital edition with your active digital subscription.

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