One of the less known parts of DuPuis is the Powerline Grade along the eastern perimeter. A one way trip is 13 miles long and can be traveled on foot, bike, horse, or car. As the name implies, the shellrock road parallels high tension power lines running south from the FPL Indiantown plant. The southern half of the road runs between a canal (with many resident alligators) and the adjacent Corbett WMA. You may also see otters, deer, birds and various Florida fauna. Bringing your camera is recommended. Happy caching!
The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is the smallest hummingbird that breeds in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. They also have the largest breeding range of any hummingbird in the United States. They are migratory birds, flying to Mexico and Central America for the winter; this may include crossing up to 500 miles of open ocean (the Gulf of Mexico).
Adults are metallic green above and greyish white below, with near-black wings. The adult male has a gorget (throat patch) of iridescent ruby red bordered narrowly with velvety black on the upper margin and a forked black tail with a faint violet sheen. The red iridescence is highly directional and appears dull black from many angles. The female has a notched tail with outer feathers banded in green, black, and white and a red throat that may be plain or lightly marked with dusky streaks or stipples. Males are smaller than females and have slightly shorter bills.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are not social, other than brief courtship and females caring for their young. Both males and females are aggressive to other species of hummingbirds.