Hummingbirds finds meals in dead trees

We have known for some time that hummingbirds dine on spiders found in their webs, and that they also use spiderwebs found at hole-entrances in dead trees.  Adding silk is a great way to give elasticity to a tiny tea-cup-size nest that must accommodate growing nestlings.  Look closely at the nest in the second photo and you may be able to spot the spiderwebs.

All these photos were taken by our devoted, keenly observant photographer, Peggy
Honda.  But the third photo recently revealed something new to us.  Like woodpeckers and other wildlife, apparently some hummingbirds enjoy insect meals found in crevices of dead trees!

We applaud Peggy for giving us another example of how Mother Nature does not allow a decaying tree to be useless.  She finds a way to directly or indirectly benefit its community.  In fact, she makes the dead tree vital to the living and those still raising young.