Hummingbird Adventures 11

Yup, this one is also Zippy, who has the rainbow feathered wings too! She twittered at me. That's all I got for today. I was so cold even in the gh, (and why was the fan on?) I wasn't able to stay out for long. But having 8 photos good enough to post out of the 40 I took today (not all of the hummers, but mostly), isn't too bad. I'm either getting better or Miss Scruffy likes to have her photo taken. NOT! She is almost as bad as the BCH as far as being shy. Maybe she is self conscious about her scruffy (term of endearment) face.
Do let us know if you can how your little baby girl does, KC.
What do you all have at your hummer feeders?
WIB,
SW

Good one of Scruffy! Here's the link to the Mother Hummer story. http://www.thevillagenews.com/story/36249/

The lesson about getting protein in them is to take some overripe fruit, put it in a bag until the fruit flies get started. When you have enough, close the bag and put it in the freezer. When you need food, take the bag out, grab some fruit flies (you have about an hour until they start flying again) and mash 'em up. Feed to happy little baby.

Only thing wrong with this - I absolutely HATE fruit flies!!!!

Kaper, gr8 job with the baby hummie, girl. I wouldn't even have a clue. Eeeeeww, smash up bugs? Eeek!

SW wonderful pics. I especially noticed the 6:57 photo and that expression! What a goofball! I especially enjoyed 7:05 Zippy. Nice "pose."

Linda

Didn't get any pics today. I was on weed patrol. The little orange one came up to my face once, thought maybe I might be too near a nest.....but alas, they were chasing each other, so I think it was just a mistake. At least they're hanging around.

Forgot to say, great pics SW.

No worries Sally, I've had days like that too.
KC, thanks for making me ROTFLOL. You are right. I don't have the stomach for that one. I hate fruit flies too. The mashing them up wouldn't be a problem. I used to swat flies and feed them to the finch that knocked itself silly when I worked for the State Park System. Got deadly aim too. The finch hung around for a few days then took off.
Maybe it wouldn't be too bad if I could do most of it outside, then put the fruitflies, rotten fruit and bag inside a ziploc before sticking it the freezer. Hmmm. Sure the boys would love it. I'm not telling them. They'd use it for an excuse not to keep the kitchen clean.
Twin, that face just made me laugh. Zippy is a real sweetie too!
KC, you rock! Thanks too for the link to the Mother Hummer story. Good reading. : )
WIB,
SW

Very nice pics SW!

Thanks pelletory, coming from you, that is a real compliment. I am honored.
Will post more this evening.
WIB,
SW

Kaper, you are truely a "hero" for saving the baby.
SW, you've posted some wonderful photos here!

I've gotten a few more hummers-all Anna's-this past week. This was one of my feeders, had to spread the other two out.

Up closer, please notice they're finally starting to get along with each other.

One of my handsome guys-

A young lady.

Duc, that's amazing. I'm lucky if I ever see two together. As always, your photos are excellent.

I'm anxious to hear from "Mother Hummer" if they can determine what was wrong with the little one. Her eyes were not right and she was fluttering very oddly. Still, she was feisty and interested in things, so I'm sure she'll recover.

BTW, I posted another message that seems to have disappeared - maybe I pushed the wrong button? The other method of getting protein into the little ones is just a PINCH of vanilla protein powder in the nectar/water. Bugs are more natural, though. :-)

Thanks Kaper, I'll pass that on to my friends.

hi kaperC
i found it i just wanted to share a picture of my baby that comes daily with her hubby and children never have the camera when i really need it no the best shot but i got her

I'll say it again, beautiful photo! :-)

thank you i love my hummers just to sit and watch them daily is an experience. they always make it known they are here.

duc, that's what my neighbors feeders look like!! Always a crowd, and I'll be darned if I can see what attracts them.

Wonderful pics guys!

mine never would go to the feeder maybe i didnt have it in the right spot i dont know

I'm still not up to the usual 20 plus count on hummers, but I've got at least a dozen most of the time now. I love watching them and how they are constantly looking and watching for other birds. My Tree Swallow males sit on the pole that holds the hummer feeder and once in a while the hummers will look up at them, but they usually just eat and run.

This tough little guy has a deformed bill at the end, but he's been here since last year and still manages to keep most everyone-except the Orioles-away from his feeder.

This message was edited Jun 10, 2009 7:40 AM

Another picture of him. The deformity doesn't seem to bother him in the least.

This message was edited Jun 10, 2009 7:42 AM

Goodness, you just never stop posting the most beautiful photos, Duc.

WOW.....I am just seeing this...were have I been???LOL

Great pics!!!!!!!!!!!

The other 10 threads are on the California Gardening forum, nanny_56. Admin, in their inimitable style, decided to move it over here, much to our surprise and, might I say, not my delight. Not that we don't want to share - everyone was welcome - but it was one of the highlights of the forum and now it's gone.

Ahhhh....well that was silly of them...I can understand. They didn't get that California part I guess....

I thought I was in a time warp or something!

Duc, once again, awesome pics, girl. Of special note to this girl is the first one with all the curly branches to highlight the hummie beak. A very interesting picture.

Actually, if you're willing, I'd love to have a copy of it with the "other" Dave's Garden copyright on it, if you're willing. I'd like to use it in a screensaver.

Linda

I agree....great pics again. Love the 'feather do' in that first one. LOL

Beautiful pics Duc!

I found out yesterday that admin had moved our friendly local thread to the Bird Watching forum. If you go all the way back to the beginning of this thread in the CA Forum, you will see that when it first started it was about rescuing a cold little hummer. I honestly didn't think there would be that much interest in my poor photos of my beautiful feathered friends outside my "region". I certainly had no intention of maintaining a feeder for the critters. I have been planting a lot of things that they like to eat out in the b.fly/h.bird garden.
On the day of the rescue, the safest place for the hummer was out in the gh. I have cats, some feral who wouldn't hesitate to make a snack of a cold hummer and I didn't want it in the house 'cause I got cats in here too.
The hummer liked it in the greenhouse, and recovered. Now she and her friends come and go at will through either the open vents or the door which I leave cracked open for them. I have to block it at the bottom though, to keep the cats out, ain't pretty but I sleep better knowing that the hummers can get in/out if needed. Plus the wind doesn't blow all the nectar out of the feeder. We get wind here every day. Then I discovered they liked hanging out in there. It does make it easier to get photos too.
I never thought that the hummer we rescued and some DG'ers helped me name, Sweetie Pie would become such a large part of my life and of others as well.
So you can imagine my shock when I was informed about the change of forums. I know of a lot of threads on the bird watching forum are about hummers. It was my intention that the folks on the CA Forum would find the continuing adventures of my and their hummers to be an extension of our own backyard. I guess the backyard just got bigger.
Here's the deal. Everyone is welcome to post their hummer photos or tell their hummer stories or just chat about hummers on this thread. It is a shame it can't be in both forums at the same time.
You don't have to have as beautiful photos as duc, who has a much better camera than me. Not to mention, is way more talented. There are days when I'm happy to get a blur of color, and she inspires me to keep trying. As one of our friends here at DG said, hummers are as fast as a speeding bullet! It's not always possible to get that perfect photo. On this thread, it's not about the perfection of the photo, but the sharing of the experience that matters most. So there you are.
Welcome to our thread if you haven't visited before. I hope you enjoy the photos, stories, and information we share with one another.
Duc, I am so thrilled that you have what appears to be two mated pairs in that photo. I'm in awe.
Your little lady looks an awful lot like my Sweetie Pie. I think the fellow with the deformed beak needs a name, and would like to respectfully suggest, (if you haven't already named him), the name "Duke" for obvious reasons. All your photos are great as usual, and I've missed you. Welcome back!
blondhavmorfun, I've never seen such a lovely colored hummer. I think it's especially nice that you were able to catch it eating Salvia, or a native food. Seems they like that Salvia from coast to coast. Well done!
My hummers have so many flowers that are blooming right now that they aren't hitting the feeder as much. They still like the gh though.
Not a great photo, but the only one that came out half way good today.
KC, I might tell the boys about the "pinch" of vanilla protein powder! LOL!
KC, I also wanted to thank you for explaining where to find the previous pages for this thread. You've been a great mentor and friend and I appreciate you!
nanny, I'm glad KC pulled you out of the time warp, and of course you are very welcome to join us, anytime. Actually, my Dad (trois) would have gotten a kick out of this, and made it a big old joke on you, and me too! LOL! He probably would have told a convincing tale that was almost plausible. Miss him still. : )
WIB!
SW

Yes, I am with nanny! I thought I was lost is space or something! Very enjoyable/interesting thread! Great pics!!!

UPDATE ON RESCUED HUMMER

The little lady (three of us now think she is a black-chinned female) is happily ensconced with a non-flying male hummer named Clark. She just might be called Lois, not sure yet. Evidently, she is blind. She will be examined by a vet, but there is a possibility she has no eyes. However, since Clark needed some company and they have been cuddling together on a perch, all might end well. She is eating, safe, and warm. Yeah! She is definitely a little miracle bird, because she's too old to have fallen out of the nest. How did she survive?

I will be updated when more is learned.

Poor little girl, she had a guardian angel for sure. How neat they're together and cuddling.

I think her parents continued to feed her. But had recently abandoned her. Can't see how she could fly blind. Possible she could smell her way to food? But how could she fly around obstacles? What a miracle baby. I kinda think it's sweet that she has brought joy to a hummer who can't fly. I kind of like the name Lois. : )
Clark, was lonely, I'm sure. What a happy ending! Got to love it.
Sadly it was very June Gloom as we say out here in CA. That means that the clouds settle in and stay most if not all of the day. It doesn't mean we get rain. It does drop the temperature though. It seems when the temps drop so do the visits to the feeder. I did see Zoom and got a blurry shot of him. But it has color!

Also got a blurry photo of Zippy, Zoom's mate.
Look at her eye. Thought it was interesting effect.

Best photo all day of Zoom perched, guarding the feeder. I don't know who from, because aside from Zippy, I didn't see anyone else. They may be foraging out front where lots of different plants they like are blooming. I'm going to have to find a place to sit and watch the happenings out there.
It never ceases to amaze me how things work out. KC's neighbors bring her a bird, 'cause they know she has pet birds. KC knows of the Hummer Mama, who has a sad, lonely flightless boy bird named Clark. She is without sight. Like it was meant to be. : )
I hope they have a long and rewarding companionship together. What a blessing they must be to each other.
Thanks for the update KC. Best news I've had all day. : )
Sure beats falling in poop. LOL!
Hopefully the sun will shine for awhile tomorrow afternoon and I can track down those tricky hummers.
WIB,
SW

SW, I also think her mom continued to feed her, because she was 'gaping' - that thing where birds open their beaks wide waiting for mom to feed them - whenever she was hungry and we touched her beak. She kept trying to fly, though, which is how she ended up on the ground in the first place. I don't know if it was her flying skills or the fact that she couldn't see that caused it. The neighbors would put her back, but a short time later they would find her on the ground again. Amazingly, their dogs did not bother her. It will be interesting to hear what the vet says. Mother Hummer is going to get good pictures of her and use the story in one of the talks she does at the local library.

Guardian angel, indeed, Sis! Most birds, I thought, would get rid of babies that weren't thriving, or ignore them until they died. She obviously had a determined mama. Or is it another myth we grew up with?

Kaper, it amazes me how wonderful it was that your neighbor brought you this little miracle. I'm so glad she is in the right hands now and safe from harm. And how great it is that she has a companion to be close to for comfort. Thanks to you, your neighbor, this little girls mama for doing the best she could for her baby and to Mother Hummer for the needed care.

SW, your photos are great! Thanks for naming my "Duke" too. I do believe the name truely fits him.

I was out playing with the camera again and found this little girl.

Those toes! The toes just get to me!

duc, it's great. I love the way she's got his whole face stuffed in that flower. I'm glad you got a photo. Unusually cold here today. Thought for sure I'd find my hummer friends hanging out in the gh. Instead I found this.





edited because of gender spelling error!

This message was edited Jun 12, 2009 9:45 PM