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Birdwatching:  Hummingbird Wars  |
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Mountain Girl
outrigged
237 Posts
JoAnn
Colville
WA
USA
237 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 21 2007 : 10:57:18 AM
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| We have lots of three different species fighting with each other at the feeding. We laugh that they seem to spend more time buzzing each other they don't have time to feed. You practically get bonked on the head as they dive bomb each other.I think part of the problem is they are getting frustrated with the wasps at the feeder that are prevelant this time of year. Bee guards don't stop them. I did see sign of hope though---the four station feeder on our bedroom deck had three peacefully eating together. Fun to watch. JoAnn |
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Ellen
outstepping
124 Posts
124 Posts |
Posted - Jul 21 2007 : 7:40:59 PM
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| When I first moved here I started to believe they weren't out on the barrier island. Tho planting for butterflies and bees showed me how wrong I was. Had a couple wild experiences with the ruby throat too. They were battling here too over a firebush and one flew into a window and fell to the ground. I thought it was a goner and picked him up. I was showing him to the boys when he came too and flew out of my hand. I was tickled, not only my heart that he was alive, but the tiny wings beating on my palm was fairy like. The other not so fun to watch happening was when I found a praying mantis with a hummer in her clutches. Did you know they prey on them? |
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jul 24 2007 : 9:23:38 PM
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Oh my gosh! I did not know that the preying mantis would eat humming birds! Thst must have been a big one!
Elizaray |
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Ellen
outstepping
124 Posts
124 Posts |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Jul 29 2007 : 9:05:14 PM
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FREAKY! Straying off subject, but did ya know that deer will raid bird nests & eat chicks, especially while lactating, to meet protein needs?!
Isn't the hummingbird's journey (among others) a fantastic reminder of how little control we can have over life? We can stomp around & proclaim omnipotence in a big petroleum-based power trip, but nature equips tiny creatures with tissue-paper wings that carry them to and fro across the tumultuous planet. Amazing!
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Apr 24 2008 : 4:01:57 PM
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Speaking of...does anybody else have hummingbirds yet? They just showed up here the other day, so I put out one feeder & they are visiting it A LOT! Not many skirmishes going on yet, though. When the flowers wane & the competition gets stiffer, I'll break out the second feeder.
Jen
Farmgirl Sisterhood Member #9
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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Libbie
outstepping
157 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - Apr 24 2008 : 6:15:27 PM
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HOLY COW! A preying mantis eating a hummer?!?!?!? I would have never believed... I'm so excited for Mid-May - that's been when I've usually seen the hummers around here. I can't wait to put up the feeder - we also have TONS of larkspur and bachelor's buttons - well, and blue flax and a ton o' self-seeding stuff that they seem to really like. The penstemon are a fave of the hummers, too - but they're not even close to blooming.
XOXO, Libbie
"Farmgirl Sister #10," and proud of it!!! |
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Mountain Girl
outrigged
237 Posts
JoAnn
Colville
WA
USA
237 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2008 : 3:37:38 PM
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Not only did we find the first morels of the season but our first hummingbird buzzed us while we were sitting on the deck. In norhtern climes this is a big deal. JoAnn
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away. Unknown |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2008 : 12:25:01 PM
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Strange how close we are this year in terms of seasonal events, JoAnn!!
Jen
Farmgirl Sisterhood Member #9
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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Libbie
outstepping
157 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2008 : 07:01:18 AM
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Isn't that funny how much we can have in common, even across the country from each other? That's SO cool that morels and hummers are "happening" for you gals! I'm just imagining a Bake-Over with morels, some GOOD cheese, sauteed onions....MMmmmmmm.... I still haven't found any, but hey, a girl can dream, right?
I'm about ready to put out the hummingbird feeders. I usually put them out in April just in case we get an early arrival, but it's been so cold, that I've decided May 1st is the day this year...
XOXO, Libbie
"Farmgirl Sister #10," and proud of it!!! |
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Birdwatching: Hummingbird Wars |
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Hummingbird Wars
