Ziggy, Could it be You?

          ​8 months in a bird's life and lots can change. I waited for Ziggy's return and it appeared like his legacy was over. A more docile male appeared and stuck to one side of the garden. His characteristics seemed quite different from his predecessor. As time went on, little bits of Ziggy's personality started to appear in the current male. He shifted his territory from one side of the yard to eventually controlling the entire garden. I started to see this crazy flight pattern appearing as he gave me more opportunities to see him in the entire yard. It was the same bird from early on in Spring, but after 8 months away and a change in tree and yard structures, these variables must have forced a few changes in his behavior. I couldn't believe it. "Ziggy, could it be you?"
    The strangest perches were being used again, and not just one of them but all of them. It's like he slowly started remembering things from the past, and I started recognizing his little quirks as well. A number of males still kept showing up but with extreme caution, and they were often times met with a surprise blitz attack from stealth jet Ziggy. 
    I saw very few similarities to start with, but after the last week of watching his behavior, I am nearly one hundred percent convinced it's Ziggy. I wouldn't have believed it early on but there are far too many similarities to not believe that Ziggy lives on. 
​Adult Male Ruby-throat. N.E. of Edmonton, Alberta. June 2017

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