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Sjogrens Topics => Living Life In Spite of Sjogren's => Topic started by: One and only on July 13, 2011, 11:09:37 AM

Title: Hummingbirds
Post by: One and only on July 13, 2011, 11:09:37 AM
After years of watching the little buggers fly through my yard to the neighbors feeder,, I mived mine to the back deck near the woods,, didnt take long for them to find it,,
White watching one fly around a small tree,, I watched her settle down into a small teacup size nest,, !!!!!!!!!!,, been watching it with binoculars, its made mostly from spider webs, and its gotten to the point where I can sit by the feeder and she will come within inches of me,, I wear a colored shirt and she will come buzz around it,, waiting for the eggs to hatch,, and then try to get a picture of it,, just need a good telephoto lens,,
Title: Re: Hummingbirds
Post by: Cheryl on July 13, 2011, 03:04:45 PM
What a relaxing pasttime!  I have a feeder, too, but for some reason I haven't seen them at all this summer.  They must have heard that you offer a better menu  :).  Enjoy them!
Cheryl
Title: Re: Hummingbirds
Post by: Meld256 on July 14, 2011, 12:14:04 AM
That is cool!   :D I've never seen a hummingbird's nest either, although we have a feeder in the yard.   I hope you're able to get some pictures; I think we'd all enjoy seeing them. 
Title: Re: Hummingbirds
Post by: A66eyroad on July 14, 2011, 06:20:59 AM
I saw one hummer this morning, the first one this summer!  What perfect little jewels.  Thanks for sharing, and for letting me share!
Title: Re: Hummingbirds
Post by: Bucky on July 14, 2011, 10:30:30 AM
A friend of mine that lives in Ohio has a picture on Facebook of her HOLDING the hummingbird feeder in the palm of her hand and there are 4-5 hummingbirds eating from the feeder!!   :o

I've always enjoyed watching them.  Growing up, my Mom had several feeders on the porch.  If the feeders were empty, the hummingbirds would dart back and forth in front of the picture window as a way to say . . . "hey, fill up our feeder!".   :D

Bucky
Title: Re: Hummingbirds
Post by: One and only on July 14, 2011, 03:02:48 PM
I did some reading onthem, there hearts beat about 1700 times a minute and slows to about 50 at night,, they live in a constant state of being just a few hour of starving to death,, nectar provides only 10% of tehre needs,, there rest is made up of small insects, check out wikipedia for a good description
Title: Re: Hummingbirds
Post by: One and only on July 19, 2011, 08:44:29 AM
we have a turf war going on,, 3 females fighitng over one dam plastic flower on the feeder,, all the babies must have hatched and there trying to feed them,, never heard them chirp before,, but they canbe downright mean chirping and chasing each other,, its hilarious watching them do loops like a airplane,
Title: Re: Hummingbirds
Post by: Meld256 on July 20, 2011, 05:38:00 AM
A turf war!  I'm sure that's something to see.  I finally saw two hummingbirds back at our feeder yesterday.  Our outdoor cat was watching intently; like she thought she'd actually catch one.

We sort of "accidentally adopted" this cat. She just came by a year ago and stayed.  She comes in the house, eats and drinks and goes back out.  We noticed she kept ducking under our porch lately, and sure enough, we see why.  Three kittens about 3-4 weeks old have started climbing on the porch with her this week.  Of course, they are adorable and I love watching them play.  But, we don't need four cats!  Anybody want one??
Title: Re: Hummingbirds
Post by: One and only on July 20, 2011, 07:11:50 AM
I was able to get a few pictures of the hummers at teh feeder,, wish I knew a plce to post them for all to see,,
Title: Re: Hummingbirds
Post by: season on July 24, 2011, 10:18:07 PM
I love the hummingbirds. They are so aggressive yet so tiny.

I would love to see your pictures.

My mother-in-law was fighting lung cancer and she wanted a feeder hung by her window so she could watch the birds. I was constantly pouring feed into the feeder so she could watch them all day if she wanted to. So now when I see the hummingbirds, I think of her.

I think I will put a new feeder up. It is past time.
Title: Re: Hummingbirds
Post by: really? on August 04, 2011, 09:29:53 AM
The hummers hatched,, and grew pretty quickly,, seemed like one day they were just little eggs,, next thing I knew a few weeks had passed and the other day I saw them sittingont eh edge of the nest,, testing thre wings,, now there gone,, they come to teh feeder with momma,, they are so tiny,, I swear there less then a inch long,, they look like a oversized bug
Title: Re: Hummingbirds
Post by: Meld256 on August 04, 2011, 08:20:04 PM
really?

That's amazing!  I've never seen hummers as "babies."  They must be so tiny, as you say.  I guess I'm a sucker for any baby animal (or fowl) ...they are just so cute.  ;D
Title: Re: Hummingbirds
Post by: theosof on August 04, 2011, 08:45:57 PM
We love "our" hummers.... The turf wars are fun to watch- we sit on our porch and when they are really aggressive we duck as it seems they get so close- The "hum" is really loud then and the chirps are a racket. It took them a while to get to the feeder this spring- we were afraid we wouldn't get any. But they are back, not as many as last year (we had to get a 2nd feeder then so there would be less bickering- not so!)/ Ours buzz the door when the feeder runs out or I am cleaning the feeder- the little dears can't wait..... I also read that the bulk of their food is actually insects as they need the protein. They drink nectar and sugar water to give them energy to get the bugs and migrate.  ;D
Title: Re: Hummingbirds
Post by: really? on August 05, 2011, 08:23:27 AM
I didnt realize they ate insects either untill they were seen picking the ants off the feeder,,
Title: Re: Hummingbirds
Post by: susanep on August 08, 2011, 09:42:06 AM
I have been enjoying ours all summer. I have two feeders where I can see them from a chair in my living room. They are so beautiful and unique.

My dad who lives just below us has many types of birds flock all over his yard for food, and he has gourds up high for the Martins, and has things out for the squirrels, etc.

susanep
Title: Re: Hummingbirds
Post by: Meld256 on August 08, 2011, 11:12:24 AM
Susanep, really?, theosof-

Seems like watching these little birds and animals outside really can give our spirits a lift.  One of those things I rarely used to take time to enjoy, unfortunately.  Now, I look for anything positive and hopeful to enhance my day, and this has become one of them.

We have 3 kittens at our house, our outside cat gave birth to about 5-6 weeks ago, and they are so cute running on the porch and playing in the potted plants. And today I saw a bluejay training it's baby to fly right in our front yard!  (Momma cat was off hunting, thank goodness.)  It flew down from a big maple and walked around and papaw was swooping down helping it along.

It may be miserably hot outside and I can't get out and do things as I used to, but it gives me joy to see all the new little lives.  I hope and pray we can all find things that can give us a smile each day.
Take care, all.
Melinda