First Flight: A Mother Hummingbird's Story and Beyond

This revised book includes a further quest for knowledge within the world of hummingbirds employing high-speed photography revealing secrets of the hummingbird's tongue no one has seen before. More than 320 species of hummingbirds inhabit North, Central, and South America. Seventeen species nest in the United States alone and seven of those inhabit the Las Vegas area. But only one Black-chinned Hummingbird chose to nest on the back porch of Las Vegas residents Noriko and Don Carroll. When Noriko and Don Carroll moved from New York City to suburban Las Vegas, they couldn't believe their eyes or their luck when they discovered a hummingbird nest on a clothesline on their porch. As the Carrolls settled into their new home, so did a female hummingbird they named Honey. For weeks, the Carrolls watched in fascination as they witnessed an event few humans are privy to the birth growth of two hummingbirds. First Flight is the beautifully photographed story of Honey and her two chicks, Ray and Zen. In stunning full-color close-ups, it captures the grace, the beauty, and the simultaneous strength and fragility of one of nature's tiniest birds. Not just for bird enthusiasts, First Flight is a magical mix of hummingbird field guide, personal story, and a tale of new life taking flight. You will be captivated by the inherent drama as it unfolds in miniature, and you'll cheer as babies Ray and Zen make their own first flights out into a bright new world.