Our week in Madera Canyon went by so quickly. Although there seemed to be fewer birds this year, and we didn’t see some of the species we’ve photographed in past years, there was still plenty of activity around the feeders. This year, more than my experience in past years, the territorial disputes seemed much more prevalent. The birds didn’t know our feeders were temporary, so they had to lay claim to them. With attacks coming from any side, and whether they were on a feeder perch or a natural perch, like this one, the hummers were on a constant vigil watching for, and expecting, an attack from above. Sometimes we would hear the clash of beaks as they connected while flying full speed and zooming over our heads or maneuvering between our tripods. Some seemed more apt to harass others and even the Rivoli’s Hummingbird seemed to have taken on a new role as harasser instead of harassee. In past years, despite its large size, the Rivoli’s was always targeted by much smaller species, but not so this year. On our last morning in the Canyon, with our tripods and flash rigs already packed, we watched from the deck at the lodge with our longest lenses to capture the last few minutes of hummingbird heaven. This male Broad-billed Hummingbird was ever vigilant as he perched near a feeder. He was soon chased off but he kept returning to this perch. And, like that Broad-billed Hummingbird, we, too, will return next year.