Hummingbird Adventures #2

Poor Spirit! Prayers and good thoughts coming your way.

< gasp > SW!! Oh dear, sweet Puppy! Oh my worst nightmare, my beloved doggies getting ahold of something I should have kept out of reach. You just keep after those who should've kept RAT POISON out of reach, girl!

I've had a terrible terrible problem with tree rats hereabouts. It seems that once rats make a path to your place, it's almost impossible to cover it up. And I can't even find it. I went to the Ag Commissioner's office the second year and got my hands on their recommended bait/poison. It's some kind of grain mixed in to a wax of some sort and poured into little paper cups. The poison is reported to take three ingestions in order to kill. The dogs would have to ingest 3 times as well, but 3 times of the entire bait. It has a wire loop embedded in it. I secured them to the top fence cross-member and other spaces it would be difficult for the dogs to get into. I watch the "decorations" very closely to insure that none of them goes missing and hoping that they have been munched on by the teeth of rats. But I live in constant fear that one of them will somehow find its way down to doggie height, frankly. You don't even want to hear about the damage they have done off and on over years.

And . . . boy do I know the wallet-hit-syndrome of emergency vet clinics. Boy howdy!

Hang in there, girl. Warm vibes coming Sweet Puppy's way, as well as yours, SW

Thanks for all your well wishing and support. There are traps that the rat poison is supposed to be placed in when people actually read and follow the instructions on the packaging. Lone Wolf will take care of it.
Luckily, I found Spirit in time and recognized the symptoms (white gums when they are normally pink is a really bad sign.), and got him to a good emergency vet in time.
The wasps are finding their way into the walls by using an incredibly small hole in the electrical fitting for the porch light. As long as you don't need the fire, can you cover the top of the fire place with a fine mesh screen to keep the wasps out, sunnyg?
How are you spotting the hummer nests? I am so happy for your hummer population explosion. We want pictures! ^_^
Twincol, I cringe at the thought of the cups going missing too. It's not just the rats that like that bait. So do squirrels, and opossums. With our winds, it would seem that they need to be better secured. I'm glad you are keeping a close eye on them. One of those tree rats favorite nesting sites out here is in untrimmed palm fronds. I also worry about the scavengers who eat the poisoned rats. Not good for balance at all.
Tomorrow back on topic.
Thanks KC, Spirit will be home tomorrow. All is well.
WIB,
SW

So glad Spirit will be home tomorrow, SW!

I now have a plexiglass sheet blocking the fireplace opening, so the wasps at least stay in the fireplace.

Check out the following link for my current nest pics: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/963526/

Here is the link to the previous nest: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/950657/

:-)

Hoping Spirit gets to come safe and sound as planned; what a terrible scary you (and he) must have had. Sending good energy your way!!!

Pretty sure that this is Zoom. Sure like his pretty crimson head.

Can't tell for sure, but I think that this is Sweetie Pie.

Think that this one is Zippy. She was chittering. Even stranger, she was perched about 10 feet away from the one in the next photo.

I'm not sure who this is, but scared it off when taking the photo. Don't think that it is Sweetie Pie or Zippy. Not the best photo.

Love the wings!

Last photo of the day. Was very intent on feeding.
WIB,
SW

Outstanding photos, SW. Remember the lady at my pottery class that rescues hummers? I just found a story in the Fallbrook Village News about her. Here's the link:

http://www.thevillagenews.com/story/36249/

What a wonderful experience you're having with the Hummingbirds, SingingWolf. Not such a good one with Spirit. I hope he's home by now.

Interesting article, Kaper. How about posting the link on the Bird watching "Daily pics" thread or any of the Humminbird threads that are active on the Bird watching forum. There are lots of people there who'd be very interested.

Aaaah, SW, the "wings" photo is wonderful! Linda

Not a great pic (and I really admire all the great pics in this thread!) but this was a happy time. I drove into my driveway, got out of the car, and walked to check out my front yard. This cutie was flitting about. Not optimum light but I ran into the house for the camera and got this little shot.... resting on the little trellis.

Oh yeah, "wings" is awesome with that light! It looks like it's been busy around there, SW. How's your pup?

Kaper, thanks so much for the link to that article...amazing!

Aguane, your buddy looks so cute perched like that

Will do, Margaret!

Love the backlit shot, SW----they're all great, but that one's my fave for the day.

Dear All - Fun posts! Thanks! We have a new hummer this year - rust colored with bright red under his neck. I think it might be a rufous. No photo yet. He's smaller than usual and a much longer beak than most! Attaching pix from last summer's sage-lover.
What is RU? Thanks! :) Hum-on! Rusty

Yes, Ima! And you could go to Philippe in Chinatown (close by) for Beef Dips and Chinatown has developed into a good art gallery area..also Olvera Street for Mexican food. Sadly, the traffic has made it such a nightmare to get there from here anymore....I really miss the old station and Philippe....not to mention the Garment District....

I worked in the garment district for several years, in the textile business supplying the garment mfgs in the 70s. Back in the polyester heyday...LOL! Loved Philippe's over by the Coliseum.

This picture was taken last week of two young hummingbirds ready to leave the nest. They stay in the trees nearby and the mom still feeds them. They make a high pitched beep and then the mom shows up. Every year for the past four, there has been a nest in a ficus tree near the front porch. They really seem to like ficus for nesting.
There are more photos of them developing in the nest at www.worldofhummingbirds.com

Maybe THAT's where the ones that live here are nesting! I have a "volunteer" ficus in the middle of my strawberry trees. I'll have to look closer---thanks for the tip!!

It's time for a new thread, please follow us over to: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/965812/
It's been a lot of fun seeing all the hummers, and reading the commentary.
Hope to see you on the new thread!
Walk In Beauty!
SingingWolf